Microsoft and EU have a fine relationship: Microsoft keeps on trying to wiggle out of EU's accusation of unfair business practices, and EU keeps fining them. Now, the European Commision added a massive 899 million euros ($1,3 billion) to the original fine of 497 million euros ($737 million), which brings us to the whopping total of €1,35bn or $2,038bn. Hear that, Yahoo? That's $1.3 billion less in Microsoft's little takeover fund.
Why the added fine? The Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes sings pretty much the same tune, claiming that they're fining Microsoft for "clear disregard of its legal obligations," and that "The Commission's latest fine is a reasonable response to unreasonable actions by Microsoft."
Microsoft, on the other hand, said in a statement to The Register that "The commission announced in October 2007 that Microsoft was in full compliance with the 2004 decision, so these fines are about past issues that have been resolved. As we demonstrated last week with our new interoperability principles and specific actions to increase the openness of our products, we are focusing on steps that will improve things for the future."