Microsoft got slapped with a massive fine from the EC (European Commission) for refusing to meet the EC’s interoperability demands. The fine was one of the largest ever levied by the European Commission at €899m (£709m).

Microsoft is resisting the fine and taking it to an appeal to try and get out from under the fiscal burden. The company filed the official appeal papers in Luxembourg requesting an annulment of the fine. Who can blame them – even for a company as large as Microsoft, £709m is a large chunk of change for doing what they do best: refusing to comply with accepted standards.

This is the second time the European Commission has fined Microsoft for failing to meet compliance and compatibility demands. The first time the fine was €497m, back in 2004 and was for failing to meet all three items in a list of compliance demands.

Microsoft made some noises to the European Commission about meeting compliance standards after the large fine was levied, but the EC was skeptical of Microsoft’s “ideas” for meeting demnds. The EC feared, rightly, that it was just another instance of Microsoft looking after Microsoft’s proprietary interests and glossing over usability and compatibility issues. The EC is refusing to speculate on whether Microsoft will be awarded a stay on appeal.

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Entry was posted on Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 4:16 am under Microsoft.

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