Microsoft to be fined $125 million by European Commission?

CRN.com | at | by Mike

Microsoft will face a fine of about $100 million Euros -- roughly $125 million in U.S. dollars -- for its alleged anti-competitive behavior, a German newspaper reported on Monday.

The commission has the power to fine a company as much as 10 percent of annual revenue -- $3 billion in Microsoft's case -- but rarely does so except in instances of price fixing, which Microsoft is not charged with.

While some in Europe speculated the fine would exceed $1 billion, one solution provider in the U.S. said if Monday's report is accurate, Microsoft can breathe easy.

"Microsoft won't care; $125 million [to the software company] is nothing," said the New York area partner who asked not to be named.