EC look ready to fine Microsoft

The European Commission (EC) has finished drafting its decision on the anti-competition case it brought against Microsoft.

The Commission is likely to decide that the firm is guilty of using its dominant Windows operating system to thwart competition and promote its video and media player. While continuing talks with Microsoft, it is now circulating the decision to the parties involved.

According to the Financial Times, the EU will want to fine Microsoft heavily, and may demand that it stops forcing suppliers to include its own media software at the expense of competitors such as Real Networks and Apple. The paper says the decision should be released by 1 May.

Microsoft has already been found by a US court to have broken anti-trust rules, and is now operating under a set of restrictions imposed as part of a deal with the Justice Department.

This case is regarded as one of Europe's most important antitrust struggles as Microsoft is the world's largest software company and also because of its possible effects on technology policy and US relations.