EU to Microsoft: Licensing fee? Try free

If European Union regulators have their way Microsoft will have to turn over technical information about its Windows operating system for little to no compensation.

According to documents seen by the Financial Times the EU and Microsoft remain far apart on the details of the EU's antitrust ruling three years ago. Under that ruling, the EU requires Microsoft to license technical information to rivals so server software is more interoperable.

The rub: Licensing typically means someone gets a fee. The EU apparently has mixed up fee and free. According to the Financial Times Microsoft wants 5.95 percent of rivals server revenue as a license. The EU wants "a tiny fraction" of what Microsoft is demanding. An EU expert noted that a licensing fee of 0 would be best.

Microsoft has until April 23 to respond.