Microsoft Keeps on Stepping on EU's Nerves

After its 2004, 497 million euros fine for infringing upon EU antitrust regulations, the American company is once again in the European antitrust authorities' sight.

This time the main accusation is the Microsoft has failed to comply with the commission's 2004 ruling to disclose technical information related to Windows' server software protocols to its rivals.

"We have made the agreement with the board of Microsoft that they should fill in their homework," said Neelie Kroes, UE Competition Commissioner.

The homework refers to technical information about the Windows operating system that are incomplete, in EU Commission's opinion and in that of the rival companies, who state that they are still waiting for a comprehensive presentation. August is Microsoft's deadline to hand-over the documentation, and Kroes is willing to wait until then before she decides on the fine.

Brussels authorities are threatening Microsoft with a backdate fine of 2 million euros a day, but subliminally suggest that the Redmond company will also suffer reputation damage, that would add to the cumulated fine of 414 million euros, if Kroes respects the August deadline.

In this regard, Neil Barret, British computer scientist and the commission's trustee to supervise Microsoft's progress on the 2004 ruling, confirmed that the US giant is working on updating its documentation.

In March, Microsoft denied EU claims that it was not complying with the 2004 requests in a hearing before the commission, and appealed the initial ruling, an appeal that may last up to a year.