Microsoft played its cards close to its chest on a possible antitrust deal with European regulators last night, as an EU midnight deadline came and went.

A Microsoft spokesman told The Register at midnight, that Microsoft is working to comply with the EU's 2004 ruling but had nothing to "announce or comment on".

Failure to comply could see Microsoft fined five per cent of its daily revenue - estimated to be worth $6.25m - each day until it falls into line. According to analyst projections, Microsoft could lose 12 per cent of earnings from its current fiscal year, which will finish at the end of June.

Penalities would follow an initial fine in 2004 after Microsoft was found to have abused its market position. The EC also ruled Microsoft should share its APIs with competitors and develop a version of Windows XP that ships without Media Player - the point that appears to be causing friction.

Regulators have done little to hide their displeasure with Microsoft over its level of compliance, despite continuing talks between the two sides. ®

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