Company representatives from Microsoft confirmed on Friday that the company has paid the $600 M fine handed down by the European Commission in its antitrust ruling against the company, although an appeal is already underway.

Representatives of the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant confirmed last Friday that Microsoft deposited the payment in an escrow account while the company's appeal is taking place. While Microsoft had the option of submitting a promissory note in place of such a payout until proceedings are complete, the company dipped into its massive cash reserves, estimated at US$50 billion, to cover the largest antitrust fine ever levied against a company by the European Union.