Compliance Toolkit

Microsoft vs EC moves to a climax

Graeme Wearden ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 03 Jul 2006 17:15 BST

The long-running battle between Microsoft and the European Commission is nearing a vital stage.

According to reports on Monday, the EC is presenting competition watchdogs from the 25 EU member states with its draft ruling on whether Microsoft has complied with the landmark European antitrust ruling of 2004.

The EC has until 19 July to make its decision public. The software giant could be fined up to two million Euros per day, backdated to last December, if the EC rules against it.

Last week, the Financial Times reported that Microsoft will be found guilty of violating antitrust rules, for failing to provide rivals with the interoperability information they need to develop server software that interacts with Windows.

Microsoft insists that it has complied with the EC's demands. But its rivals have accused it of offering 'pointless concessions'.

Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, told the Financial Times that the company has delivered a series of documents to the EC outlining its compliance efforts, and is on track to send the last document on schedule later this month.