Microsoft's reprieve from sanctions (120 days to provide inter-connect)

[papau]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/microsoft/Story/0,2763,1248765,00.html

Microsoft's reprieve from sanctions

David Lawsky in Brussels
Monday June 28, 2004
The Guardian

The European commission yesterday suspended an order requiring Microsoft to sell a version of its Windows operating system without media player software, just hours before the order would have taken effect.

The temporary move will give a European Union judge breathing space to sort out Microsoft's request for a long-term suspension of EU-imposed changes to its business practices, which the commission demanded along with a record €497m (£330m) fine when it found the software company had broken competition law. <snip>

The commission gave Microsoft 90 days to separate Windows Media Player, which plays music and video over the internet, from its Windows operating system. The deadline was yesterday. Under the suspended sanction, it would have been up to computer makers to decide whether to ship Windows with Windows Media Player or with a rival product, such as RealNetworks' Real Player. <snip>

The commission also gave Microsoft 120 days to license interconnection software to ease the way for rivals to hook up their servers to Windows.