Brussels, 06/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has begun tests on the market to verify the compatibility of Microsoft's offer with the decision taken in March 2003 demanding the US firm find a remedy to abuse of market position. The proposal presented last Tuesday by Microsoft (EUROPE 8958) focuses on the obligation of interoperability, which would allow competitors (those who devised the system for work group users) to acquire data protocols on the basis of a detailed technical document. Microsoft has revised access conditions to this information, which until now was “unreasonable and discriminatory”, indicated the Commission in a press statement. “I am happy that Microsoft has recognised certain principles which must underlie its implementation of the Commission's Decision” said European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. Microsoft has agreed that it will allow development and sale of interoperable products on a worldwide basis. Microsoft has also recognised that a category of the information which it is obliged to disclose will be royalty-free. Microsoft considers that the software source code developed by recipients of the interoperability information that implements the Microsoft protocols should not be published under a so-called “open source licence”. The Commission nevertheless, considers that this should be possible for the protocols that do not embody innovations. Neelie Kroes explained, “I remain determined to ensure” that this is the case immediately after a possible positive decision at the Court of First Instance. Market tests are expected to last two weeks, indicated Kroes' spokesperson on Monday. There could be a decision at the end of July, he explained last week. The spokesperson pointed out that in connection to making available a version of Windows without the Media Player software, market test had been carried out but as long as there was no agreement on everything, they had nothing to go on. He added that the body charged with verifying application of the decision by Microsoft had not been appointed. He also said that he hoped that Microsoft would present an “acceptable candidate very shortly”.