Microsoft in talks on EU software concerns

BRUSSELS: Microsoft Corp. said on Friday it was talking with the European

Commission over allegations it rigged its operating system software to work

better on its server software than rival products.

"There are discussions," Jean-Philippe Courtois, Microsoft

president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, told reporters at a European

business forum. "We are anxious to get this legal case behind us."

John Frank, Microsoft associate general counsel for Europe, said the US software

giant would like to discuss a settlement once the issue became clearer for

European Union officials.

"At some point, when issues have crystallized for the commission, we

would like to have settlement talks," he later told Reuters. "We don't

know when it's going to happen. There is no fixed timetable. (But) it's likely

that the earliest opportunity would be after the summer recess," he said.

The commission is investigating allegations that Microsoft designed its

Windows operating system to work better with its own server software. In March,

Microsoft told EU officials it was ready to give rivals information on its

proprietary software to help them compete better.

Courtois said Microsoft chief privacy officer Richard Purcell would meet EU

officials in Brussels next week to talk about privacy issues. EU countries have

heard complaints alleging that Microsoft's .NET Passport service does not have

adequate safeguards to protect users' personal information.

Privacy advocacy groups say the service collects the data as users bank,

shop, and play games online.

(C) Reuters Limited.