In a move that should surely surprise no one, the European Commission (EC) has renewed its assault on Microsoft and announced that it believes the US giant is still behaving anti-competitively.
Yesterday saw the EC renew its accusations that Microsoft is illegally preventing other companies from competing fairly against Internet Explorer by making the browser an integral part of Windows.
More money?
After paying over £600 million in fines to the EC already, Microsoft now has two months to respond or face yet another fine.
Whether that response includes "a remedy that would restore genuine consumer choice and enable competition on its merits" – as the EC demands – remains to be seen.
Microsoft, for its part, contends that it has already done everything necessary to compete fairly, after a 2002 US ruling imposed clear conditions that should allow the likes of Mozilla and Google to join the browser wars on an equal footing.
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dion_ale
January 17th
4. EC Bullying tactics again! Ive just installed a beta version of windows 7 and I'm using Google continuously. EC should direct their energy in creating policies that boosts competitive os's & browser that is more friendly than Microsofts. Why dont they create a OS and browser of their own? How about trying EC os with a browser name "bully"?
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roarrr
January 17th
3. 'Apple have a product that only has the Safari browser and no alternatives.'
What are you talking about? I'm using a mac now with FF3. I also run Camino & Opera. They all work on mac.
Still I believe the fines to be a little harsh.
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jmace86
January 17th
2. I have to agree. This seems totally unfair on Microsoft. Obviously they are going to include a browser with their OS and it only makes sense that the browser that they include is their own.
If people want to use another browser it is an incredibly simple task to download one and even delete IE if they are that sure that they are never going to use it.
What is it exactly that the EC thinks that MS should be doing to compete more fairly?
Also, much as I love my iPhone, I really do not understand how it is that MS are fined for being anti-competitive with regards to browsers when Apple have a product that only has the Safari browser and no alternatives.
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northerngeek
January 17th
1. Does anybody think this is justified? It's an OS that comes with a browser, and browsers are pretty fundamental to how we use computers nowadays. Some people may even (shock horror) WANT to use IE, and those who don't can still switch at any time. There aren't any unneccessary hurdles, this is just moronic.
Surely the iPhone not allow third party browsers is a bigger deal than this? What about Macs coming with Safari? The EC is just picking a fight on no grounds.
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