Microsoft readies EU appeal

Microsoft plans to file next week its formal appeal of a European Union ruling that the software giant violated antitrust law and should be fined and made to curtail its business practices.

Microsoft vowed to appeal as soon as the decision was announced last March. In its decision, the EU fined Microsoft a record €497m and also ordered it to offer a version of Windows without a bundled media player. The EU also ordered the company to disclose more technical information to rivals.

A Microsoft spokesman said: "We intend to file our appeal sometime next week."

Microsoft's appeal will be to the Court of First Instance in Luxembourg. The company has contended that the decision would harm its ability to innovate.

"We look forward to filing our appeal and believe we have a very strong case to present to the court," the spokesman.

European regulators have said they believe that the ruling will hold up to any legal challenge.

European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said at a March press conference: "Of course, I'm confident we have produced a decision that will stand before any appeal."

Microsoft is also expected to ask the Court of First Instance to delay any imposition of the remedies, but that request is not expected to be filed until later in June.

Ina Fried writes for News.com