The EU head office is insistent that Microsoft must provide better documentation on its software programs to competitors in order to achieve interoperability with the dominant Windows PCs and servers. It gave Microsoft until Jan. 25 to answer the complaint. The EU said it also was investigating the royalties Microsoft would charge for using its software information and said another legal challenge might be issued if it was unhappy with the financial demands. ''I have given Microsoft every opportunity to comply with its obligations. However, I have been left with no alternative other than to proceed via the formal route to ensure Microsoft's compliance,'' said EU Antitrust Commissioner Neelie Kroes. The report further stated that ''the documentation appears to be fundamentally flawed in its conception, and in its level of explanation and detail. ... The documentation needs quite drastic overhaul before it could be considered workable.'' The EU ordered Microsoft in March 2004 to pay 497 million euros ($613 million), share code with rivals and offer an unbundled version of Windows without the Media Player software for what it saw as an abuse of its dominant position in the industry. The Court of First Instance, the EU's second-highest court, has not yet set a date to hear Microsoft's appeal. You are subscribed as roessler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/ |