Microsoft braces for EU appeal
2004-09-27 12:08
Brussels - Microsoft Corporation said on Monday it is ready to put a stripped down version of Windows on the market if ordered to do so by a European court.
The US software giant said it will abide by whatever ruling is handed down by a European appeal court hearing due to start this week against an EU condemnation for abusing its market dominance.
Microsoft, which was fined €497m ($605m) under a ruling by EU competition authorities in March, is due to present its appeal at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg from Thursday.
After a marathon competition inquiry, the commission found this year that the company had to offer a version of its operating system Windows without its Media Player software offering access to audio and video content.
The commission also required Microsoft to provide competitors with the information they needed to enable their products to communicate with Windows.
"We obviously think that having to comply really would cause great harm not only to us as a company but to great many others in our industry," said Microsoft chief lawywer Brad Smith.
"But nonetheless if we're ordered to comply we'll be in the position to to do so," he added.
The money from the fine has been paid into an escrow account, meaning it is held in trust and neither Microsoft nor the commission has access while the appeal is pending.