Microsoft files antitrust documents with EU today

November 23, 2006

Aiming at complyhing with a 2004 antitrust decision, Microsoft filed revised documents today with the European Commission today.

The decision had held that as the maker of the dominant PC operating platform (that'd be Windows) Microsoft allowed too little interoperability with other software developers.

In doing so, Microsoft fulfilled a deadline which had been set by EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, but it will be months before it is clear whether the submission is sufficient to avoid a fine that could be as high as 3 million euros ($3.9 million) a day.

As a resultk the decision compelled Microsoft to "disclose and license complete and accurate interface documentation which would allow non-Microsoft work group servers to achieve full interoperability with Windows PCs and servers."

"Microsoft has submitted a revised version of the Technical Documentation," the Commission said in a statement.

Microsoft called today's admission "a milestone," noting it reflects a review of some 100 documents, totaling some 8,500 pages.

The EU said that the review process of the information Microsoft submitted today could take "months."