Brussels, 08/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - Microsoft has announced that it has reached a compromise with the CCIA (Computer & Communication Industry Association) and Novell, which have accused it of breaching anti-trust rules. The CCIA agreed not to intervene in the appeals proceedings begun by Microsoft at the European Court of Justice (the computer giant is opposing the decision by the European Commission to impose a USD 497 million fine on it for abusing its dominant position: EUROPE 29 September p 16). The CCIA brings together computer companies that compete with Microsoft and introduced a complaint at the Commission against the former in February 2003. The complaint involved problems of inter-operability with the Windows XP system with competing products. The CCIA also agreed not to pursue Microsoft at the Supreme Court in the USA in a similar procedure begun in the USA. In exchange, Microsoft will become a member of the CCIA and contribute to funding some of the legal costs incurred by the association over recent years. Microsoft also reached an amiable agreement with software publisher Novell, which it has paid USD 536 million. The conflict focused on the Novell NetWare system, a product that competes with Windows. The computer company believes that it has suffered from Microsoft's anti-competitive practices. Novell also agreed to not begin proceedings against Microsoft at the European Court of Justice. The different parties, however, did not reach an agreement on WordPerfect word processing and Novell will introduce a new complaint regarding Microsoft's anti-competitive practices during the period June 1994- March 1996. During a press conference on Monday afternoon, the legal director at Microsoft, Brad Smith was pleased that these agreements sent out a strong message that his company and others were now able to sit down at the table and sort out disputes in a friendly way. Smith said that Microsoft would continue to collaborate with its competitors to stimulate economic growth and create jobs world-wide.