EU surprised by Microsoft’s decision to disclose source code

EU surprised by Microsoft’s decision to disclose source code

Software giants Microsoft has announced their plans to disclose the source code of Windows Operating System to their rivals to comply with a ruling in the antitrust case going against them in the European Commission. The company had few days to justify the steps taken to comply with the courts ruling to avoid being financially penalized.

The decision to reveal the source code of the operating system to enable competitors make better applications for the windows platform has come as a surprise to the European Union Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. Kroes said in a statement: “It was a surprise that they decided to disclose the source code.”

The commission is now verifying if this step taken by Microsoft would indeed resolve a dispute where the Commission has threatened to fine Microsoft up to two million euros daily. The company would probably be instructed to provide documentation with the source code to make it easier for the companies to make sense out of what they are provided.

Kroes added: “Normally speaking, the source code is not the ultimate documentation of anything, which is precisely the reason why programmers are required to provide comprehensive documentation to go along with their source code.”