MS Customers to Evaluate EU Settlement

The European Union has given customers of Microsoft's products a period of ten days to decide if the company's latest offer to settle its antitrust case with them and the EU is adequate.

Last year, the EU found Microsoft guilty of antitrust violations and fined the company 497 million euros. With the decision came a ruling that the company must produce a version of its Windows XP operating system without multimedia capabilities built in, which was central to the trial.

Microsoft was accused of stalling and making the product less desirable by naming it "Reduced Media Edition," causing the EU to demand in late January that Microsoft either comply or face a daily fine of nearly $5 million USD. The EU also asked Microsoft to change the name to something more appealing.

"The Commission will decide on whether it considers the proposals from Microsoft are satisfactory or not in light of the reactions in the marketplace," EU spokesman Jonathan Todd said.

While Microsoft had said earlier that the slimmed down Windows XP could be expected within weeks, no further information has been provided as to a solid date. "We are fully committed to comply with the Commission's decision," a Microsoft spokesperson said.