EC Receives Fresh Batch of Documentation from Microsoft

Published: August 2, 2006

by Alex Woodie

Microsoft this week submitted the latest round of technical documentation aimed at appeasing the European Commission and its demands for clarity regarding how the so-called "communications protocols" in Windows work, according to Reuters. If the documentation is found insufficient, the EC could impose more fines, on top of the $357 million it fined Microsoft last month.

Microsoft and the EC are at odds over the software giant's technical documentation, which the EC required of Microsoft as part of its landmark 2004 ruling against the company and its anti-competitive business practices in the European Union. For two years, the two sides squabbled over the content and completeness of the documentation, with Microsoft claiming the EC never clearly spelled out what was required of it, and the EC slamming Microsoft for printing incomprehensible documentation.

On July 12, the EC fined Microsoft €280.5 million, or about $357 million at the time, for failure to comply with its initial 2004 ruling. Microsoft is appealing that fine. The company still faces fines of up to €3 million per day if the EC finds the documentation is still insufficient. It could be weeks or months before the EC announces its finding on the new batch of documentation.