Shareholder sues Microsoft for ‘mismanagement’ browser choice

A shareholder has sued Microsoft for handling its browser selector screen in Windows. Due to an error, this was not shown to all Windows users, which led to a fine of more than half a billion euros.

The lawsuit was filed by shareholder Kim Barovic in Seattle, US, Reuters reports. In the indictment, Barovic accuses a number of high-ranking Microsoft employees, including former CEO Steve Ballmer and founder Bill Gates, of mismanagement. This concerns the browser selection screen in Windows, which was not shown to millions of Windows users due to an error. This resulted in a fine of 561 million euros for Microsoft, imposed by the European Commission.

According to Barovic, Microsoft’s management did not act properly and the incident was insufficiently investigated by the board of directors. Barovic states that it is still necessary to find out what is causing the lack of the browser selection screen in Windows and that those responsible should be punished for this.

Microsoft has said in a response that it has found no evidence of mismanagement by its top executives. The company argues that a lawsuit therefore has no basis.