fined Microsoft 280 million Euros (for monopoly) 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5171126.stm (free translation: Jacinto Dávila).
has been fined Microsoft 280.5 million euros (357 dollars) by the European Commission for disobeying
prior opinion
on trial for anti-competitive practices.
proprietary software giant will appeal the fine is the latest episode in a long
dispute with European regulators.
The decision is a sequel to that order which marked a milestone in the
2004, in which he ordered the company state-Unidense
you give information to rivals about its Windows operating system.
European regulators also warned Microsoft it could face more fines
up to 3 million euros per day.
Content and Clarity.
daily fines would be imposed from 31 July if Microsoft
not provide developers with technical information rivals "complete and accurate
," said the European Commission.
Microsoft general counsel, Brad Smith, insisted the
company has complied with the demands of the committee and said they would appeal the decision
.
"This is not for non-compliance, is clarity," said Mr. Smith in
press conference.
Mr. Smith said Microsoft would argue that the original demand
the commission was vague and that the company has done everything possible
since then to comply with the opinion and submit all required information
.
Microsoft is expected to deliver a final package of information for
use of their rivals, July 18, long before the
deadline set by the European Commission on 24 July.
"Hopefully, We'll close this chapter in a couple of weeks,"
Mr. Smith said, adding that despite
Microsoft was not happy with the fine, the company had seen signs of progress in
resolution of the dispute.
Des-assembling
Commissioner for Competition of the European Union, Neelie Kroes, said he had not had
alternative but to "establish the payment of penalties
" against Microsoft, adding that "no company is by
above the law. "
"I regret that, two years after the decision ..
Microsoft has not yet ceased its illegal conduct, "said Ms Kroes.
Brussels had warned Microsoft in December that
could receive fines of 2 million per day if not complied with the orders of the commission
.
According to the order of 2004, Microsoft had to provide rival firms
more information about your software, and so enable
write programs that can run (run) better
Windows operating system.
That decision also required Microsoft to dis-assemble your (software management
of audio and video) Windows Media Player from its Windows operating system
, besides setting the record fine of 497 million Euros
.
