When Microsoft realised the error, it contacted the EC’s competition authorities to admit that it had failed to follow a directive to create a level playing field where browser choice was concerned....

When Microsoft realised the error, it contacted the EC’s competition authorities to admit that it had failed to follow a directive to create a level playing field where browser choice was concerned. For cooperating with the competition authorities, Microsoft faced a reduced fine; under EU rules, it could have been required to pay as much as 10 per cent of its revenues for 2012, which would have amounted to almost €6 billion.