The European Commission (EC) is on the verge of completing its long-running investigation into Microsoft Corp and appears determined to take a tough line against the software group, it emerged Tuesday.
The EC has been investigating the group's business practices for four years and said last August that it believed that Microsoft Corp was abusing its dominant position and may be fined for its behavior.
Yesterday it emerged that the commission has already drawn up a provisional decision in the case and is poised to go public with it -- possibly as early as March.
The commission is anxious, however, to dampen speculation.
"At this point the European commission is on the verge of wrapping up its Microsoft investigation," a spokeswoman said.
"There's a draft decision, but the [final] decision itself has not been made, and certainly we cannot speak of fines yet."
However, leaks from the document to various European media suggest the commission may fine Microsoft and force it to make sweeping changes to its Windows software.
Microsoft could be fined up to US$3 billion, although in practice the figure is likely to be lower.
Negotiations between the two parties are still under way, and they could end amicably.
"We're doing what we can to come to some amicable settlement," Microsoft founder Bill Gates said last weekend at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The commission's primary allegation is that Microsoft designed Windows 2000 to function better with the company's own servers in order to squeeze out rivals and that the firm is withholding vital information to prevent competitors remedying the situation.
It also alleges that the group's decision to "bundle" its Media Player software with the Windows OS gives it an advantage over rivals.
The commission is therefore widely expected to demand that the software be "unbundled" and sold separately.
EU competition commissioner Mario Monti has styled himself as a champion of consumer interests and has not shied away from confronting some of the world's largest multinationals in the past.
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