Check Point told to stop bullying resellers

Internet security firm Check Point has been told to stop threatening its distributors with the removal of its products from their shelves if they continue to stock rival companies' software.

The European Commission decided the Israeli firm was abusing its dominant market position and has restricted some of the company's business practices.

The investigation began on the back of a complaint from rival Finnish company Stonesoft after distributors began dropping its product under pressure from Check Point.

Stonesoft informed the Commission that Check Point had told its resellers and distributors across Europe that if they stocked Stonesoft's competing product, Check Point would no longer supply them with its more popular software.

Stonesoft has now withdrawn its complaint.