Microsoft claims EC violated its defence rights.

(From DMEurope)

DMEUROPE-2 February 2006-Microsoft claims EC violated its defence rights (C)2006 DMeurope.com (http://www.dmeurope.com) & DME Ltd. All rights reserved.

The conflict between software giant Microsoft and the European Commission (EC) is likely to become more heated. According to a report from Financial Times, Microsoft has sent a 'strongly-worded' letter to the EC, in which it accuses the regulator of violating the software company's rights in the enforcement of its antitrust rulings.

The EC issued a Statement of Objections in December which threatened Microsoft daily fines of up to 2m if it did not comply with the EC's March 2004 …