Brussels, Belgium – The European Union levied a second massive fine – $357 million – against Microsoft and threatened greater penalties unless the world’s largest software company obeys a 2004 antitrust order to share technical details of its Windows operating system with rivals.
Microsoft Corp. was fined Wednesday for allegedly flouting the earlier order, on top of the record $613 million fine it paid at the time. It also faces new penalties of $3.82 million per day beginning July 31.
Microsoft – which in comparison earned $2.98 billion in the quarter ended March 31 – said it would appeal, claiming the “unprecedented” amount was unfair.
Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith said the company would ask the EU’s second- highest court, the Court of First Instance, if its compliance efforts have been sufficient, claiming that the EU had never been clear about what it wanted.
