EC Denies 2nd Microsoft Deadline Extension

On Wednesday, Microsoft’s second request for more time to respond to the European Commission’s (EC) 2004 antitrust ruling was denied, Reuters reports.

The ruling ordered the company to pay roughly $2.4 million-a-day in fines.

The denial comes on the same day that an EC hearing officer shot down Microsoft’s request for access to correspondence it said was crucial to its defense.

“We have confirmed the deadline of February 15 on the basis that nearly eight weeks should be sufficient for Microsoft to reply to a compararively short statement of objections,” Commission spokesperson Jonathan Todd told Reuters.

“The Commission’s position on this point is contrary to both the letter and spirit of the law,” Ian Forrester, a Microsoft attorney, wrote to Hearing Officer Karen Williams.

For background on the happenings between the 2004 antitrust ruling and today, read MS: EU Riding “Roughshod” Over Its Defense, Microsoft Granted Extension for Fine Proposal Reply, Microsoft Will Appeal EU Ruling, Microsoft to License Windows Source Code and EU Commish Surprised by EU Source Code Offer.

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