Microsoft Corp. looks more than likely to earn a place in history by becoming the first company to be hit with daily fines by the European Union for failing to respect an antitrust ruling.The E.U.'s highest antitrust official, Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, has given the company until Feb. 15 to comply with the Commission's March 2004 ruling or face a fine of up to €2 million (US$2.4 million) a day.

Microsoft faces first European Union antitrust fines