This ruling,
among other things, required Microsoft to publish some interfaces
for group server operating systems and for media players, so that
competitors could make their products interoperable with
Windows.
The Commission has already warned Microsoft that the documents
supplied so far by the firm are inaccurate and incomplete and has
threatened to fine Microsoft up to €2 million a day for
non-compliance.
In response Microsoft has now offered unlimited free technical
support to licensees of the interoperability program. Previously it
had offered 500 hours worth of free support.
In a statement yesterday Microsoft said it would also provide
on-site assistance to licensees and confirmed that it had submitted
a work plan to the Monitoring Trustee (who is advising the
Commission on the technicalities of Microsoft’s compliance)
detailing a number of projects to enhance the program’s technical
documentation.
“These new documentation projects, together with free and
unlimited technical support and access to Windows source code, will
ensure that our competitors have all the assistance they need to
make this program effective,” said Brad Smith, Microsoft Senior
Vice President and General Counsel.
According to reports, however, the offer has been met with a
cautious response from the Commission. Commission spokesman
Jonathan Todd welcomed the move as a positive step but added,
according to Reuters:
"However, technical support is only helpful
once the documentation has reached a certain quality standard ...
the Commission's preliminary view is that the technical
documentation still does not comply with the requirements of the
decision”.
Microsoft has requested an oral hearing before the Commission to
put forward its arguments. This is due to take place next week.
The company is in the process of appealing the original
antitrust ruling, but stressed that it was “committed to meeting
all compliance requirements specified by the European
Commission”.
