This is Bob Doughty with the VOA Special English EconomicsReport.

The European Union's Commission on Competition ruled Wednesdaythat the Microsoft Corporation has used its powerful market positionillegally. The E-U ordered Microsoft to provide information aboutits Windows operating system to other software companies. The E-Ucommission also ordered Microsoft to make a version of Windowswithout one of the company's own software products. And, it orderedthe American software company to pay about six-hundred-milliondollars.

Microsoft says it will appeal the decision to the European Courtof First Instance in Luxembourg.

Microsoft is the world's biggest software maker. Software is aset of orders for the parts of a computer. An operating system is acomplex set of orders that control the computer, its software andother devices. Microsoft software runs more than ninety percent ofall personal computers in the world.

The E-U commission ruled about Microsoft's addition of a mediaplayer to its operating system. A media player lets a computer playmusic and video through the Internet. The commission orderedMicrosoft to make a version of Windows without the Microsoft MediaPlayer. Microsoft has said that is not possible.

Other software makers are increasingly using open code operatingsystems. Any company can make software for these systems. ButMicrosoft uses a secret code. The commission did not order Microsoftto share its secret code. But it did order Microsoft to shareinformation that will permit competing companies to make softwarethat works with Microsoft systems.

Microsoft says the commission's actions will give European buyersfewer choices. The company says a settlement it proposed would havebeen better. The company had offered to include three competingmedia players along with Windows.

European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti says companies withpowerful market positions have a special responsibility to make surethey do not prevent competition. He says the decision restores theconditions for fair competition.

In the nineteen-nineties, the United States government chargedMicrosoft with harming competition. Microsoft settled its case withthe government in two-thousand-one.

This VOA Special English Economics Report was written by MarioRitter. This is Bob Doughty.