Microsoft Nears EU Truce after Decade-Long Battle

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US software giant offers to allow rival browsers in after long struggle with EU

Microsoft could close the door on a 10-year legal battle with the European Union, after the regulator backed its moves to open up internet browsing on Windows to rivals.

The Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said yesterday in Brussels that she had "good grounds for thinking that we are moving towards a very satisfactory resolution".

Brad Smith, general counsel for Microsoft, said yesterday's announcement was "a significant step toward closing a decade-long chapter of competition law concerns in Europe".

The regulator became concerned by Microsoft's practice of …