Free Republic

Frustrated with past efforts to change Microsoft Corp.'s behavior, European Union regulators are pursuing a new round of sanctions against the software giant that go well beyond fines. The regulatory push is focused on a longstanding complaint against Microsoft: that it improperly bundles its Web browser with its Windows software. Rather than forcing Microsoft to strip its Internet Explorer from Windows, people close to the case say, the EU is now ready to try the opposite measure: Forcing a bunch of browsers into Windows, thus diluting Microsoft's advantage. The sanctions would come from an EU investigation that began last year....

The European Union’s antitrust chief Neelie Kroes said today she had not yet received all information on Microsoft’s offer to share software codes and comply with a 2004 EU antitrust ruling. She also told European politicians that the software giant could not charge fees for the server protocol and communication codes if it could not prove that the code was innovative. “If no such innovation … no remuneration can be charged by Microsoft,” she said. Microsoft Corp. has until February 15 to reply to the formal charge sheet the Commission sent in December over providing complete and accurate information...