The European Commission is investigating whether Microsoft Corp is trying to damage rivals by embedding its proprietary audio/video software, Media Player, into its Windows operating system, it said on Thursday. The Commission, announcing an expansion of an earlier investigation into Microsoft, said Media Player cannot be readily removed by computer makers or consumers. It said that places at a disadvantage rivals in the market for watching video and listening to audio over the Web like Real Network's RealPlayer or Apple's QuickTime. The Commission said it is also investigating whether one version of the firm's operating system, Windows 2000 is designed to work better with its own servers than those of rivals.
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