The question that what amount Microsoft has paid out in anti-trust fines is laid open flat for incessant speculations.



According to Jack Schofield from Guardian, the fine might be crossing a little more than $5 billion. However, Todd Bishop of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, a Microsoft run paper, has put the amount on $6.83bn and it still counting.



Microsoft was recently held guilty in a U.S. government anti trust case where its position was too vulnerable to defend. Following the judgment, companies such as Sun Microsystems, AOL Time Warner, Real Networks and IBM are already lined up to have their share of money.



The calculation by Bishop is slightly confusing on the amount paid to Sun. The company has received only $700 m related to anti-trust issues and Microsoft has paid $900 to settle patent issues with the Sun. Further, $350 m has been paid in advance for a technology collaboration agreement.



Nonetheless, this is just beginning of some troubled days for Microsoft, as the European Union is all set and hell-bent to take tough stance to punish this software giant. If it is fined, seems inevitable, the amount may cross $1 billion.



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