European Union says Microsoft is delaying proceedings

European Union says Microsoft is delaying proceedings

European Commission has instructed the software giant Microsoft to comply with the rules and regulations by the end of May to terms with the European Union authorities. The ruling is related to the long running antitrust dispute between the two parties connected to a 2004 judgment where the courts found Microsoft guilty of abusing their position in the market to harm the competition.

The company is required to clarify what it can do to bring its operation with compliance with the laws of the land. However, the EU has reported that they have found the attitude of the software giant to be lax and non-cooperative. European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said: “We are waiting for the Microsoft people to do their homework.”

However, the company is as usual claiming that they are doing the best they could as an official representative told the press that Microsoft continues to work out with the commission towards an agreement on full compliance with the decision.

The ruling also told the company to open up its core software systems to rivals in addition to paying around € 497 million fine to the EU. The company is also required to provide a version of Windows without its own Windows Media Player. And the EU is empowered to fine Microsoft up to 5% of its daily global turnover for each day that a decision is not applied to its liking.