Microsoft Asks EU How Much To Charge Rivals

Microsoft responded Monday to the European Union allegations that it is overcharging rivals information to make their products work better with the windows.

Software maker also reiterated its request for additional guidance on how to monitor considered to be acceptable prices.

Software industry fair competition, EU officials expressed the hope that Microsoft opponents have access to a "reasonable cost" substances help them exchange programmes with Windows-based servers. Regulatory the so-called current prices too high, and Microsofts information is not enough.

European Union has given Microsoft until Monday evening, with the response on the charges, it was designed to share computer information from competitors, and threatened highest possible daily fines for 4 million US dollars a day. It said it will consider The companys reply, and decided whether or not to impose a daily fine.

Microsoft refused to provide detailed information on the companys response.

Microsoft said earlier that it charges the price is fair and that the EU has failed to provide clear guidance.

In addition, Monday, Microsoft declined the opportunity, there is a hearing, and Commission on the EUs dissenting statement.

"We need to more clearly what price the hope that the [European] we do not charge, we believe that this is more likely to come from a constructive conversation, than from the formal hearing, "said Brad Smith, Microsofts general counsel .

Microsofts licensing programme providing the highest royalty rate of 5.95% product namely, the use of its server protocols and the company has expressed the belief that the price reflect the value Code. It claims that the European Commission hoped that its technology licensing free to competitors.

March 1, the EUs executive body said that at present "there is no significant innovation" in the requested information has been provided by Microsoft rivals - and therefore Microsoft has no right to charge higher license fees.

Microsoft complains that the treatment it received from 27 countries EU is unrivalled anywhere in the world, and hurt Europes efforts to become a thriving high-tech economy.

In a landmark 2004 ruling, the EU regulators found that the companys competitiveness outbreak law and abused its dominant market position.

Apart from the record it imposed a fine of 674 million US dollars to the then ruling party, EU fine levied 380 million US dollars last summer, he said that Microsoft did not supply - as requested - complete interoperability document.

At the same time, Microsoft has reached a licensing agreement with several of the company the problems with the original software vendors approach and pricing, including Sun Microsystems and Novell Inc.

Microsoft has lodged an appeal in 2004 and the original court ruling is expected September.

Microsoft shares fell 30 cents 28.72 US dollars in afternoon trading Monday on the Nasdaq stock market .