Microsoft offers settlement for antitrust

BRUSSELS: Microsoft has offered to make computer makers carry rival audiovisual software with its own Windows Media Player to settle antitrust charges by the European Commission, a source close to the case said.

High-level talks aimed at reaching a settlement continued for a third day with Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and general counsel Brad Smith remaining in Brussels, a company source said.

The offer, first reported on the Financial Times website, is seen by some in the Commission as going beyond EU regulators' own requirements. Microsoft would require two other audiovisual software packages be carried on the hard drive of computers as a condition of selling Windows XP to computer makers.

© Reuters