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The European Union's antitrust agency has zeroed in on two areas in which Microsoft allegedly violated EU antitrust law, according to news reports.
One violation concerns Microsoft's tying its music and video player software into Windows and the other concerns Microsoft's server software, which is said to operate better on Windows than on competitors' software. The reports -- not corroborated by EU officials who have remained close-mouthed on the issues -- were published in The New York Times.
During its investigation, the EU's Competition Directorate heard complaints from Microsoft's competitors about the tying and the server software charges. Unconfirmed reports have surfaced asserting that the EU may ask Microsoft to release two European versions of Windows -- one with Windows Media Player included; another with it stripped out. As for the server software issue, there have been anonymous reports that the EU will encourage Microsoft to release more of its server source code to competitors.
Reports have also asserted that Microsoft will be fined by the EU. At the same time, the EU and the company both have reasons to settle the case as settlement negotiations are said to continue behind the scenes.
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