EU members back new fines for Microsoft

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2006

BRUSSELS (AFP) — European regulators have given their backing to the European Commission to slap huge new fines on Microsoft for failing to comply with a 2004 antitrust ruling.

The fines, which could go as high as two million euros (2.56 million dollars) a day, will be backdated to December 15, and could therefore reach as much as 400 million euros.

Representatives of regulators in EU members states meeting Monday in Brussels voted unanimously in favour of the fines, two sources said, on condition of anonymity.

EU national regulators are to meet again next Monday to discuss the size of daily fines that could be imposed on Microsoft starting in the coming weeks.

An EU source said Tuesday that the European Commission would take a final decision on the...