Microsoft is in negotiations with the European Commission, according to Bloomberg, trying to come to terms on what it will cost the company to get out from under the latest round of antitrust charges related to its browser and Office software.

The wire service, citing four unidentified sources, said Microsoft wants to come to terms before antitrust chief Neelie Kroes leaves office this fall.

Microsoft has already paid $2.4 billion in fines for past perceived offenses and is still appealing part of its mammoth fines.

Microsoft has said it will cut the browser out of Windows in Europe to avoid being forced by the EC to offer users competitive browsers like Firefox and Opera.

Bloomberg quotes New York University Law Professor Nicholas Economides as saying that move makes it difficult for the EC to defend a new fine in court.