Judge backs EU Microsoft sanctions

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Microsoft's attempts to get EU antitrust sanctions suspended failed when they were upheld by a senior European judge. Microsoft had asked the judge to suspend the sanctions until its appeal against the Commission's March ruling is decided - probably four or five years from now.But according to a statement issued by the European Court of First Instance, "Microsoft has not shown that it might suffer serious and irreparable damage as a result of the implementation of the contested decision".

This means that the two duties imposed on Microsoft in the March ruling will have to be implemented straightaway. First, Microsoft will have to offer a version of Windows without its MediaPlayer software to personal computer makers and consumers. Secondly, it will have to license information to its rivals so that they can design products that interoperate smoothly with Windows-driven PCs.The Commission had in March also imposed a record E497m fine on the group, but Microsoft had not asked the court to suspend payment.