Microsoft Fights European Fine

Microsoft is putting its case against the $1.4 billion fine imposed by the EU for violating a 2004 antitrust settlement.

Microsoft is battling to have the massive $1.4 billion fine imposed on it by the EU after violating a 2004 antitrust agreement set aside.

According to court filings obtained by Reuters, the company claims the fine was excessive and unreasonable. It was imposed after the European Commission decide that Microsoft code licenses were too expensive for most developers, which made the code inaccessible, and therefore violated the antitrust agreement.

According to the filings, Microsoft has asserted:

"The Commission failed to take due account of the fact that the contested decision only concludes that the royalties allegedly established by Microsoft under one particular license."

The company has also claimed its evidence wasn’t properly heard before the fine was imposed.