it took 9 years until the settlement ...

Microsoft has paid nearly 1 billion euros, or $1.43 billion, in fines since the commission’s initial ruling and could face up to 1.6 billion euros more, which began accumulating in December 2005 after Microsoft failed to provide the protocols. Ms. Kroes said she would decide before the end of the year whether Microsoft must pay the additional fines. | nyt

and the other side: ¿ms patent tax?