Microsoft 'Optimistic' After Start of EU Trial

(Brussels, Belgium) - Microsoft Corp. Friday said that it was more optimistic about its antitrust litigation with the European Union regulatory bodies, and still hope to avoid EU fine of about 2.4 million US dollars a day.

A lawyer for the worlds largest software company to comment on Friday on a good start, the final day of the hearing, which is the companys last chance to defend itself before deciding whether to impose fines of the EU. And the more than 100 lawyers and senior officials attended the hearing.

European Union regulators said the company still has to comply with the conditions of a 2-year-old antitrust order to share technical information with competitors, which will help them to make the software compatible with Microsofts Windows operating system.

Corporate counsel Brad Smith said that the dialogue between the two sides, the EU executive Commission and Microsoft was constructive, and Thursday in the first day of the hearing. "I only hope that we can have such a dialogue sooner," he said.

"I am more optimistic than when I arrived, this type of constructive dialogue can, in fact, lead to a real solution." Smith said Thursday that fines are not the answer to the question, he said, Microsoft has already exceeded the 2004 to comply with EU antitrust order forcing the company to hand over the EUs largest ever antitrust fine of 497 million euros (613 million US dollars).

EU has threatened to increase daily consecutive penalties, dating back to December 15, technical manuals, Microsoft this month, the need for a thorough overhaul so that it can be used.

EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes warned earlier this month that the company was on course large fines if they can sustain their recent carried out.

Kroes letter to the United States Government, two other senior officials and EU governments on Monday the Microsoft case, the European Union and United States officials said Friday.

The United States delegation to the EU said it would like to point out is that if Microsofts allegations that antitrust regulators lacked transparency and fairness are accurate, "said it will be a tremendous concern, the United States" mission stressed that it is not taking any position on the situation, it is normal, the two sides will maintain regular contact with the commercial problem. Jiaonasentuode EU spokesman would not comment on the contents of the letter, saying it was "a non-paper, there is no official status," and said that the EU and the United States are usually close cooperation antitrust issues.

Microsoft has complained that the EU wrongly withheld documents, it needs to challenge the ruling party, and in 2004 the second highest in the European Union court, in late April. It alleges that EU officials and Microsofts rivals may impact report from an independent oversight criticized the companys efforts to follow the order.

Thomas vinje, lawyers, an industry group of Microsofts competitors - the European Commission interoperability - insisted Microsoft was still not complying with EU in order to share technical information with its competitors.

"Failed to comply with, but it is time to comply with," he said, before addressing the hearing.

He said that the technical manuals, Microsoft to the EUs regulatory body is "absolutely clearly not good enough." "Everybodys expectations, in its outside, Microsoft and paid witnesses said, as if this were not good enough." EU has rejected Microsofts request, the regulators had not been clear and consistent in what they were looking for. The EU said it has clearly explained Microsofts obligations in the original 302 antitrust order.

Microsoft hearing Thursday to the technical manuals, is an independent monitor branded "paralysis" met industry standards. Six technology companies testified that they were using manual to create software compatible with Microsofts products. It named four of them as EMC Corp., starbak Communications Inc., TANDBERG Television Limited and network applications.

The European Commission that many companies have said that Microsofts information, not suitable.