Taking a tougher stance on Microsoft Corp.'s use of its market power than the United States recently took, Europe is proposing remedies for alleged non-competitive behavior that include greater interface disclosure requirements and potentially the unbundling of Windows Media Player from the operating system. The European Commission said in a news release Wednesday that it has collected further evidence from consumers, suppliers and competitors that bolster an earlier finding that Microsoft is using its dominant position in the PC market as an advantage in the low-end server market. Insufficient interoperability between Windows and rival products is impeding competition, the Brussels, Belgium, regulator said.

When contacted by the commission, a majority of small, medium and large enterprises in all industries across Europe said that interoperability factored into their purchasing decisions. The commission concluded that the amount of interface information that Microsoft discloses alters consumer choice in favor of Microsoft server products. The commission said it also found that by tying Media Player to Windows, Microsoft is weakening competition, stifling product innovation and ultimately reducing consumer choice.