Microsoft hit with 280m euro fine

[GIBSON]

Microsoft has been fined 280.5m euros ($357m; £194m) by the European Commission for failing to comply with an anti-competition ruling.

The software giant will appeal against the fine which follows a long-running dispute between it and EU regulators.

The move follows a landmark EU ruling in 2004, which ordered the US firm to provide rivals with information about its Windows operating system.

EU regulators also warned Microsoft it could face new fines of 3m euros a day.
Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5171126.stm

[werty316]

Statement from Microsoft:

Source (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jul06/07-12EUFinesPR.mspx)
Microsoft Corp. issued the following statement by General Counsel Brad Smith, following the decision by the European Commission to impose a €280.5 million against the company: “We have great respect for the Commission and this process, but we do not believe any fine, let alone a fine of this magnitude, is appropriate given the lack of clarity in the Commission’s original decision and our good-faith efforts over the past two years. We will ask the European courts to determine whether our compliance efforts have been sufficient and whether the Commission’s unprecedented fine is justified. Despite these fines, Microsoft remains totally committed to full compliance with the Commission’s 2004 decision. We will continue to do whatever the Commission asks to comply with its decision as these issues are considered by the courts.