Earlier this week, Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith unveiled a set of voluntary principles to guide development of the Windows desktop platform worldwide.

"Our goal is to be principled and transparent as we develop new versions of Windows," Smith said. "These voluntary principles are intended to provide the industry and consumers with the benefits of ongoing innovation, while creating and preserving robust opportunities for competition. The principles incorporate and go beyond the provisions of the U.S. antitrust ruling."

Smith told the audience that the principles do not supplant the continued application of antitrust law or the important role of government agencies and the courts in applying those laws.

"Microsoft is committed both to full compliance with antitrust law and to an ongoing and constructive dialogue with governments and others in the industry -- both in the United States and around the world," he said. The principles, which consist of 12 tenets, are divided into three general categories:

-- Designing and licensing Windows to make it easy for computer makers and users to install non-Microsoft programs and configure Windows-based PCs to use non-Microsoft programs instead of, or in addition to, Windows features.