MS Fined $1.3B By EU

Microsoft has been ordered to pay a series of fines totaling $1.3 billion for withholding critical information from developers.  Because Microsoft controlled the operating system, the EU feels that Microsoft's attempts to charge money for access to information regarding its APIs was tantamount to abuse of their industry leading position.

“EU regulators said the company charged "unreasonable prices" until last October to software developers who wanted to make products compatible with the Windows desktop operating system.”

While Microsoft has been fighting this issue for three years now, the company did make major changes to its policies towards the end of 2007.  There is no word yet on whether or not Microsoft will attempt to appeal this decision.
Tags:  EU, Fine, MS