From The Guardian, "The European commission, which fined Microsoft a record €497m (£345) this year for abusing its dominant position, yesterday vowed to continue pursuing the US software group through the courts for anti-competitive behaviour...

...EC officials were scathing about Microsoft's alleged efforts to "buy the silence" of rivals. On Monday it reached a $536m settlement with software maker Novell, and a ceasefire with the US Computer and Communications Industry Association. As part of the settlements, both withdrew from the Brussels case."