Guardian Unlimited's Mark Tran reports:
"The EU today imposed a record fine of 497.2m euros (£331.3m) on Microsoft, accusing the software giant of abusing its 'near monopoly' to squeeze competitors in other markets.
In a landmark ruling, the European commission ordered the company giant to offer a version of its Windows operating system without Windows Media Player within 90 days.
The commission also told Microsoft to disclose enough information in the server market so their products can have 'full interoperability' with desktop computers running Windows, the operating system in over 95% of the world's PCs. Microsoft has 120 days to fulfil this condition. [...] Today's fine exceeds the record 462m euro penalty imposed on Switzerland's Hoffman-La Roche in 2001 for leading a vitamin cartel. But large as the fine may sound, it will be just a pinprick for Microsoft as it has about $53bn (£28.7bn) cash on hand."
