EU commissioner says Microsoft fine inevitable

BERLIN - The European Union's Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said she

could see no alternative to fining U.S. software giant Microsoft for breaching

the bloc's antitrust rules.






Asked whether Microsoft would be fined for failing to comply with an antitrust
decision, Kroes told reporters in Berlin: "I couldn't imagine another way."






In March 2004 the European Commission said the software giant was abusing the
dominant position of its Windows operating system and ordered it to give

information to rivals so they could create software that runs smoothly with

Windows.






But since then, the Commission has charged Microsoft with foot-dragging in
handing over reliable and accurate information.






An EU committee ruled on Monday that Microsoft failed to comply with the
antitrust decision, paving the way for fines of up to 2 million euros ($2.56

million) a day, a source familiar with the situation said.






Asked about the size of the fine, Kroes said: "I can't inform you about that."





Microsoft has argued that it has complied with Commission instructions and any
fine would be unjustified.