The European Commission has suspended sanctions against Microsoft stemming from a ruling that the group had abused its dominant market position. The move came after the world's largest software company appealed against the decision at the EU court early in June.
The EC stressed that the move was an "interim measure" until a court had ruled on Microsoft's request. Microsoft has also asked for a long-term suspension of EU-imposed changes to the way the firm operates. The changes ordered by the Commission include selling a version of Windows without its media player software.
Microsoft was ordered to unbundle the software within 90 days - that deadline runs out on Monday. The EC, in its March ruling, also hit Microsoft with a record fine of 497m euros (£332m) and gave it 120 days to reveal details of its Windows software codes, so rivals could design compatible products more easily.
But on Friday, the company appealed to the Court of the First Instance in Luxembourg, asking it to suspend the orders for as long as its case remains before the European Courts. That could see the penalties suspended for as long as three years.
View: Article, at the BBC
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