“Microsoft has broken European Union antitrust law and must face sanctions, according to a draft decision expected to win endorsement on Monday from an advisory committee of the 15 EU states,” Reuters reports. “The European Commission draft requires Microsoft to share proprietary information with rival server makers and to provide computer manufacturers with a second version of Windows stripped of built-in audiovisual software, sources familiar with the case say.”
“EU regulators have found that the world’s biggest software company has refused to halt its violations. Since continuing settlement talks have produced no deal, the ruling sets out detailed plans to impose changes,” Reuters reports. “The advisory panel of national antitrust experts is also expected to endorse a fine of hundreds of millions of euros, but not until a second and final meeting on March 22.”
Reuters reports., “The advisory committee is expected to endorse a proposal requiring Microsoft to ship two versions of Windows to computer makers, which account for most sales of the operating system, for installation in computers sold in Europe, the sources say. One version would have Microsoft Windows Media Player tied in as it is now. The other would have it stripped out. The aim is to free computer makers to sell Windows bundled with rival audiovisual software such as RealNetworks
