Microsoft, the world's biggest software maker, is appealing the record 899 million euro ($1.4 billion) fine imposed on it by European authorities for anti-trust violations.

The Redmond-Washington-based firm said in a statement it filed an application to the European Union Court of First Instance to annul the European Commission's decision on February 27.

In March 2004, the commission fined Microsoft 497 million euros for holding back information about its software which damaged rivals.

The commission ordered the company to open up availability of its software to rival companies so they could make products compatible with its Windows operating system.

Later, it fined Microsoft an additional 280.5 million euros for not complying with the order.

A separate fine accumulated from June 1, 2006 to October 21, 2007. The EU accused Microsoft of failing to charge companies reasonable prices.

Microsoft