US software company Microsoft is finally set to pay a fine in Europe after a dispute over not having the option to use the Internet browser on the Windows operating system. The financial penalty imposed by the European Commission amounted to 631 million US dollars (581 million euros).

In 2007, Windows platforms did not have a browser choice option, so initially its users could not use any browser other than Microsoft Internet Explorer. Norwegian browser company Opera is the first to sue. At the time, Microsoft claimed that it was for the convenience of its customers, but in 2010 they launched a browser selection pop-up screen after the European Union took notice. At the time, Windows developers promised to provide the screen at least until 2014 to avoid penalties. But after the release of Windows Seven Update in February 2011, the browser selection option was lost. The US company described the incident as a “technical error”.

But these excuses did not save Microsoft from punishment. Under the law, the EU commission could impose a fine of up to 10% of the company’s global revenue, according to a 2012 report, amounting to about ৪ 8.4 billion.

“We take full responsibility and apologize for the technical error that caused the problem,” the Windows maker said in a statement following the commission’s decision. Microsoft said it was providing full support to the EU Commission’s investigation and that steps were being taken to prevent any such problems in the future.

The move would be an example not only for Redmond, but for other related organizations as well.