Neelie Kroes, the European Union’s (EU) competition commissioner, said Thursday that Microsoft’s offer to release the source code behind its Windows operating system was a surprise, CNET News.com reports.
“It was a surprise that they decided to disclose the source code,” Kroes said.
Kroes and her staff are currently determining whether or not the offer will resolve a spat in which the European Commission has threatened Microsoft with fines of $2 million-a-day until it complied with the EU’s antitrust rulings. For background, check out Microsoft to License Windows Source Code, Microsoft Will Appeal EU Ruling and Microsoft Granted Extension for Fine-Proposal Reply.
-Al Sacco
