EU Microsoft appeal plods on

MICROSOFT'S anti-trust appeal, which is fighting EU sanctions against its super soaraway XP operating system, is inexorably grinding ahead.

This is despite the fact that Vole has paid its fine and released a version of its software minus the media player to appease the Commission. You can't help getting the feeling that the largely unaccountable €urocrats are picking on the Vole.

But according to Reuters, Microsoft is continuing to appeal the case, even though it will probably take years.

The whole thing had stalled for a few months since the European Union's Court of First Instance in Luxembourg transferred the case to a special Grand Chamber including senior judges.

The latest news is that there are now plans to appoint extra judges in the case and everything has been put on hold for another few months to a year.

This is because the mountain of documents has to be translated into French, which is the lingo of the Judges. Some observers expect the transfer to delay a decision in the case by three months to a year.

At issue is the small matter of Vole handing over what it calls "proprietary secrets" to its rivals who also make server software running printers, file access and security on office PCs.

Commission officials reluctantly settled for the exemption to avoid more delays in court, saying competitors could prepare software to be used if and when the Commission wins the case. Which should be as early as the turn of the century, or after the arrival of Longhorn.

And there's more about this, here. µ