News pick of the day... Microsoft's Reign Faces Key EU Court Ruling 13 September 2007, 10:24 CET Microsoft has fought back at every chance it gets, arguing that the Commission wants it to give away valuable trade secrets to competitors (BRUSSELS) - Microsoft's long-running reign over global software markets faces a crucial test on Monday when Europe's second-highest court rules whether an antitrust case by EU regulators against the company holds up. In what has become one of Europe's biggest legal battles, Microsoft is challenging a March 2004 anti-competition decision by the European Commission and the record fine of nearly half a billion euros that went with it. While the verdict will bring Microsoft's epic antitrust battles to a new climax, the decision by a special panel of 13 judges at the European Court of First Instance is unlikely to close the book on the case as it can be appealed. After a year and a half of deliberations, the judges at the Luxembourg-based court will weigh into the high-stakes standoff between the software giant and the European Commission when they hand down their ruling at 9:30 am (0730 GMT). However, the extreme technical complexity of the case makes it likely that the ruling -- the most important since the court's founding in 1989 -- will not give a clear-cut victory to one side or the other. "Whoever tries to predict the judgement is smoking dope," said one lawyer close to the case. However, "it's possible that judges give something to both sides." While a ruling against Microsoft could threaten the group's long-standing business strategy, a decision against the European Commission would deal a painful blow to the credibility of Europe's top competition watchdog. Both sides will have a little more than two months after the verdict to decide whether or not to lodge a new appeal with Europe's highest tribunal, the European Court of Justice. Read Full Story