Microsoft may be fined around $5 million per day if it does not
swiftly implement sanctions imposed on for its breach of antitrust
laws, the European Commission hinted on Friday, according to
Reuters.
Microsoft announced last week that it would not appeal a
December ruling by the European Court of First Instance that
sanctions imposed on the software company for a breach of antitrust
laws should be implemented immediately.
Microsoft had been hoping to delay implementation until it had
completed its appeal against the original antitrust ruling, but
instead the software giant has to comply with the sanctions within
six weeks of the December ruling.
That deadline expires this week.
This means that Microsoft now has to disclose details of the
interfaces required for third party products to be able to "talk"
with Windows, to any business wishing to develop and distribute
work group server operating systems.
Microsoft also has to offer for sale in Europe a version of
Windows without Windows Media Player, although it can also market
the operating system with Windows Media Player.
Speaking to Reuters, Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd
confirmed that the remedies should be implemented within a matter
of weeks rather than months, and that in the event of a delay, the
Commission had the power "to decide to impose penalty payments up
to five percent of Microsoft's average daily turnover."
Reuters notes that, based on last year's turnover, this could
amount to around $5 million a day.
The Commission has also squashed Microsoft's plans to name its
new versions of Windows the "Windows XP Home Reduced Media Edition"
and the "Windows XP Professional Reduced Media Edition".
According to reports, the Commission felt that the title was
likely to discourage purchasers from buying the Media-Player-free
software.
"While we believe that name is fully compliant [with the
antitrust ruling], in the spirit of compromise we have agreed to
make a change in the name of the product," Microsoft spokesperson
Jim Desler told PC World.
Microsoft and the Commission are in talks ahead of the deadline
to resolve any outstanding issues.
Speaking to Reuters, a Microsoft spokesman confirmed, "Microsoft
is committed to complying with the Commission's decision and is
working with the Commission toward that goal."
