Microsoft to appeal EU fine

Microsoft has said it will appeal against a record €899m (£681m) fine imposed by the European Commission in February for using high prices to discourage software competition.

The move is part of a long-running battle between the EU and Microsoft which has seen a total of €1.68bn (£1.27bn) of fines levied against the company.

"Microsoft today filed to the (EU) Court of First Instance an application to annul the European Commission decision of February 27," the US software giant said in a statement.

The European Commission said in response that it was confident the fine was "legally sound".

The commission imposed the original fine because Microsoft defied a 2004 order from Brussels to provide technical information to competitors which would allow software to be inter-operable.

The commission initially fined Microsoft €497m (£394m) in March 2004.

Microsoft unsuccessfully appealed against that penalty and was also later fined €280.5m (£222m) by the commission for non-compliance with the commission decision.

See also:

Microsoft scraps Yahoo takeover bid

Software giant unwilling to raise bid further after threats by search firm to partner with Google  04 May 2008

Microsoft monopoly case to go ahead

European Commission to investigate anti-competitive behaviour accusations from browser rival  15 Jan 2008

Microsoft barely scratched by EU decision

Allowing third-party access to its code may not dent supplier’s dominance  01 Nov 2007

Microsoft finally caves in on EU competition decision

Software giant will open up elements of its products to improve server interoperability  22 Oct 2007

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