Microsoft antitrust offences to trigger sanctions

net1

Microsoft is guilty of breaking European antitrust law and should face sanctions, according to a draft decision reached by European Union regulators.

The draft, which is expected to win support from an advisory committee of 15 EU states today, requires the world's biggest software maker to share proprietary information with rival server makers and to provide computer manufacturers with a second version of Windows, without its built-in audiovisual software.

The ruling is designed to enforce changes within the company following unsuccessful settlement talks and conclusions from EU regulators that the company has refused to halt its violations. The advisory panel is also expected to endorse a fine of hundreds of millions of Euros against Microsoft.