Microsoft-EU antitrust settlement hopes dim
InfoWorld | at | by Mike
Hopes of a last-minute settlement of Microsoft's antitrust case in Europe dimmed Wednesday, after a morning meeting between competition commissioner Mario Monti and Steve Ballmer, the company's chief executive, broke up early without any apparent meeting of minds, said people close to the talks.
Monti is demanding even tougher remedies from Microsoft in return for a settlement that averts a precedent-setting negative ruling in a week, the people said.
Monti's meeting with Ballmer was brief, one person said. It followed a four hour meeting with Microsoft's chief lawyer Brad Smith Tuesday afternoon. The person added that another face-to-face meeting between Monti and Ballmer is "unlikely".