Microsoft Reportedly Bends On Source-Code Licensing

Brad Smith, Microsoft's top lawyer, announced the news in Brussels, calling it a "bold stroke," according to an Associated Press report. More details were not immediately available.

Microsoft has been under fire of late from regulators in the United States and Europe for not complying with previous orders in its long-running antitrust battles.

The U.S. Department of Justice this week also scolded Microsoft, saying the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant was late in providing documentation required under a 2002 antitrust settlement.

Last spring, the European Union fined Microsoft about $610 million and ordered the company to share source code with other software firms and offer a version of Windows without the Media Player application. RealNetworks, the maker of a rival multimedia player, had complained about Microsoft's bundling practices. Then, a month ago, the European Commission threatened more fines, claiming that Microsoft had not obeyed the previous order.

Control of source code has always been a bone of contention with Microsoft. The company has maintained that the code constitutes its crown jewels and is made available only in very rare circumstances.