Microsoft has been granted an extended deadline to respond to the accusations that its Internet Explorer – Windows bundle is harming competition. The company has not made any comments, but the European Regulators appear to have given it another month, until April 21, to respond.

The announcement follows another one by the European Commission, who at the beginning of this month said it would stop fully-monitoring Microsoft after the 2004 Decision (the monitoring will only be performed from time to time).

Under the 2004 decision, Microsoft was found responsible of infringing two articles of the EEA agreement, by refusing to supply interoperability information, and by tying Windows Media Player with its operating system.

Earlier this year, the European Commission sent a Statement of Objections to the company, accusing them of infringing the European Commission Treaty rules on abuse of dominant position. The announcement came less than one year after Microsoft was imposed a €899 million penalty for non-compliance with the 2004 antitrust decision.

According to the Commission’s preliminary conclusion, Microsoft’s tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice.

Microsoft said at the time in a statement that they were fully committed to conducting their business in full compliance with the European law, and that they will give an answer to the Commission within 2 months.

Microsoft is also entitled to request a hearing after submitting its response, making it impossible for the European Commission to make any decision until then.