After a firm scolding from the Eu-ropean Commission in March, Microsoft suddenly seems eager to play well with others. In the past week alone, the company struck up two new friendships. After two years of wrangling, game developer Electronic Arts agreed to adapt its popular video games for Microsoft's online Xbox Live. And Microsoft and business software maker SAP pledged to make their respective products more harmonious. These companies are the latest to join Microsoft's growing buddy list. Barely a week after the EC fined Microsoft some $600 million for using its desktop monopoly to squelch competitive media players, Microsoft and longtime nemesis Sun Microsystems made peace after Microsoft paid $1.95 billion to settle an antitrust suit filed by Sun in 2002. Microsoft also cozied up to InterTrust Technologies, shelling out $440 million last month to end a long-standing patent dispute over InterTrust technology that helps companies protect their digital information. Also in April, Microsoft settled a class-action antitrust suit with the state of Minnesota.
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