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Brussels (pte037/31.05.2005/13:56) - European Union antitrust regulators will be faced with weeks' worth of analysis regarding Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com and its possible breach of an anti-competitive ruling after tonight. The largest software company in the world may have to pay US$5 million a day in fines if it is found to have been negligent of complying with the EU's regulations.
EU Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd said that the case is "highly complicated stuff" and will have to be analysed carefully.
The case has been running for five years: last year Microsoft was fined 497 million euros and ordered to share its software codes, produce new versions of its products and make other changes. Bill Gates' baby was also found guilty of dominating the market too aggressively and not allowing software competitors to integrate their products with its Windows software.
"We continue to work hard with the EU Commission toward an agreement on compliance," said Microsoft spokesman, Tom Brookes.
The EU's harsh approach was expressed by European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes who said: "The deadline is the end of this month and if it's not met then it's the end of the game."
According to Todd, once the deadline is over, "it will take several weeks to analyse what's on the table."
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