Socraweb

Since Microsoft on 24 July thousand pages new documentation submitted by the European Commission is the all single weeks quiet. The largest part of the documentation meanwhile a first control has endure, according to Microsoft, but she is subjected now at a series tests. It can yet single weeks or months last learn for we more.

In July, the events followed each other at high speed. On 12 July became Microsoft condemned till the paying of 280.5 million Euros fine, because it not tegemoet was come on are obligations that result from a condemnation in 2004.,.

In 2004, Microsoft got three punishments opgelegd: a first fine of 497 million Euros, the obligation a version of Windows from without media player and the releasing of documentation about the communication protocols of Windows servers to bring. The fine has been paid and exists the gestripte Windows-version, but the Commissions was dissatisfied Server with the released documentation about Windows.

The independent expert or trustee that in this affair have been appointed, professor Neil Barrett, advised in November 2005 that the documentation in fact useless was. The Commission laid not was an extra fine on of 2 million Euros per day from 16 December 2005 so long the documentation in order. Hence the fine of 280.5 million Euros that on 12 July became opgelegd.

From 31 July can that fines run to 3 million Euros per day. Meanwhile were Microsoft and professor Barrett however all single months at the work at a total rewritten documentation. Barrett sign in April 2006 a structure for the documentation from and there were arranged that the documents in 7 parts would become handed in. The last to pieces will then on 18 July become binnengeleverd, single days for the (new) extreme deadline of 24 July.

Because the first parts all single months in the possession its by the trustee, must the largest part of the documentation meanwhile already at leastturn by the trustee have been looked at and have been steered with comment back to Microsoft, says Microsoft-spokesman Tom Brookes. The more greater part has gotten meanwhile all the version number '1.0'.

After that is tested the documentation however also yet, says Brookes. That means that co-workers of Barrett try round, on base of the documentation, software to write that with Windows servers communicates. Precisely on that area will it with the earlier documentation, end 2005, wrong have been walked.

A spokesman of the European Commission had not to enter however into the progresses. According to both parties, it can however yet single weeks or months last clarity for it comes.