Microsoft Appeals E.U.’s $357M Antitrust Fine

Microsoft, the world’s largest producer of software, on Tuesday said it had appealed a July European Commission ruling ordering it to pay $357 million (280.5 million euros) for its failure to comply with the conditions of a March 2004 antitrust ruling, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft was fined by the commission some $600 million (497 million euros) in March 2004 and it was told to modify some of its business practices, according to the Journal. Microsoft previously filed an appeal of that ruling, and it expects a decision sometime in 2007, the Journal reports.

In July, the commission handed down the $357 million fine because Microsoft did not comply with the March 2004 ruling.

A Microsoft spokesperson told the Journal the deadline to file an appeal of the July ruling was Tuesday and that the company had met that deadline. He also told the Journal that the firm expects a decision on the recent appeal during 2007, and that it had already paid the fine and would be requesting a refund.

Related Links:

• Rivals: Microsoft Locking Others Out of Vista Security

• Microsoft Hit With $357M E.U. Fine

• Microsoft: E.U. Fine Won’t Delay Vista Launch

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