Microsoft has been caught with its hand in the cookie jar again and the European Union wants to clamp down on the software giant. The EU threatened to fine Microsoft Corp. $2million a day for not obeying a 2004 antitrust case ruling. They've accused Microsoft of intransigence in sharing information with competitors.

The threat of sanctions now rings in Microsoft's ears since the EU wants them to offer more detailed information in order to make competitor's products more compatible with their Windows Server OS. Brad Smith, one of Microsoft Corp.'s top lawyers commented on the matter when he accused European Commission officials that they would impede sanctions before reviewing highly technical documentation sent in Wednesday.

"We don't understand how they can reach these conclusions, because they haven't read or reviewed these documents� Every time we do absolutely everything we've been asked to do, we're told that there's something else we need to do," said Mr. Smith.

According to Jonathan Todd, an EU spokesman, the Commission hadn't even received the documentation. He also expressed his doubt that the documentation will address the European Union's major concerns. Todd said that the last letter did little more than promise Web link and other formatting error changes.

Microsoft has been in hot water for some time with the company's practices. Hopefully the EU and Microsoft will soon get on the same page in order to avoid further conflict.