The European Commission has threatened to fine Microsoft more than $2 million a day unless it agrees to share more technical information with its competitors, reports the New York Times. The EC and Microsoft are at odds over the latter's compliance with a 2004 European Union antitrust ruling. The EC says Microsoft has failed to live up to its agreement.

Europe wants the data-serving software made by rivals to work as easily with Microsoft's desktop operating system as Microsoft's server software does.

Neelie Kroes, the European antitrust commissioner, said in a statement, "I have given Microsoft every opportunity to comply with its obligations. However, I have been left with no alternative."

Microsoft has until Jan. 25, 2006, to provide an adequate respond to the new set of charges. Otherwise, the daily fines of up to $2.37 million would be calculated starting Dec. 15.