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Thursday March 25, 12:27
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EU fines Microsoft $612 mln
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The European Commission, as expected, has backed the draft findings of Competition Commissioner Mario Monti and has fined Microsoft (MSFT) 497.2 million euros ($611.5 million) for market abuses - its largest fine ever. The Commission, the executive arm of the EU, has ordered Microsoft to disclose operating system interface information to rival server maker within 120 days, AFX reported from Brussels. Microsoft will be entitled to "reasonable remuneration" for any interface information that is protected by intellectual property rights and it will not have to disclose any of its source code, the Commission said. It orders Microsoft to offer personal computer manufacturers a version of its Windows operating system without Windows Media Player as well. Both remedies were widely expected. The Commission said Microsoft may still offer PC manufacturers a version of Windows with the media player but that it must not offer any commercial, technological or contractual terms that render the stripped-down version less attractive, the Commission said, adding that it believes the remedies bring the antitrust violations to an end and establish clear principles for the future conduct of the company. Competition commissioner Mario Monti said: "Today's decision restores the conditions for fair competition in the markets concerned and establishes clear principles for the future conduct of a company with such a strong dominant position," the report said.
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