Microsoft is hoping its deal with Sun will lead to a wider outbreak of peace.

Last week's settlement of its long running legal action with Sun will help Microsoft overturn the judgement from the European Commission, according to senior Microsoft executives quoted in the Financial Times.

The Commission imposed a $603m fine on the software giant as part of an anti-trust settlement. Microsoft is taking its appeal to court in Luxembourg in June. But the EC believes the agreement between Sun and Microsoft will have no effect on its own case.

Sun has long been one of Microsoft's harshest and most vocal critics - Sun CEO Scott McNealy said Bozo the clown could manage Microsoft better than Bill Gates. Sun was a prime mover in getting the EC to take action in the first place. ®

Related stories

EC MS ruling: simply the end of the beginning
Europe wanted to rule over future Windows tech, says MS
Sun welcomes EC Microsoft ruling