European Union Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said today she could see no alternative to fining US software giant Microsoft for breaching the bloc's antitrust rules.
Asked whether Microsoft would be fined for failing to comply with an antitrust decision, Ms Kroes told reporters in Berlin: "I couldn't imagine another way." Asked about the size of the fine, Ms Kroes said: "I can't inform you about that."
In March 2004 the European Commission said the software giant was abusing the dominant position of its Windows operating system and ordered it to give information to rivals so they could create software that runs smoothly with Windows.
But since then, the commission has charged Microsoft with foot-dragging in handing over reliable and accurate information.
An EU committee ruled on Monday that Microsoft failed to comply with the antitrust decision, paving the way for fines of up to €2 million a day, a source said.
Microsoft has argued that it has complied with commission instructions and that any fine would be unjustified.