The EU competition regulator has ordered a record 899 million euros fine, or $1.35 billion, against Microsoft for its anticompetitive practices. The European Commission said that the Redmond company charges too much rivals for software information and it doesn't want to comply with a March 2004 order and fine.

This brings the grand total of fines against Microsoft to almost $2.5 billion, because it comes on top of previous fines of around $1.2 billion.

"Talk is cheap; flouting the rules is expensive," Neelie Kroes, European commissioner for competition policy, said in a statement. "Microsoft continued to abuse its powerful market position after the Commission's March 2004 decision requiring it to change its practices."

In an attempt to change its image and appease the EC, Microsoft announced earlier this month 4 new interoperability principles of its future software. They include ensuring open connections, promoting data portability, enhancing support for industry standards and fostering open discussions with customers and the industry, the company said.

However, Kroes is not impressed. "A press release, such as that issued by Microsoft last week on interoperability principles does not necessarily equal a change in a business practice," the European commissioner said.

Microsoft is expected to publish over 30,000 documentation pages on their website for Windows client and server protocols that have only been available through a trade-secret license so far. Within the next few months, developers will have access to Microsoft’s documentation, but they will be free to develop their products as long as they will not try to use them for commercial purposes.

According to the company, for a commercial distribution of the applications, the developers will have to obtain a patent license from Microsoft.