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EU Going After Microsoft, Again

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 30, 2009 8:47 AM CDT
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(Newser) – European Union regulators are taking yet another shot at Microsoft, and this time they’re hoping to do more than fine the software giant, the Wall Street Journal reports. Their latest strategy: forcing Microsoft to bundle alternative web browsers with Windows, thereby diluting Internet Explorer’s inherent advantage. They may also demand a “ballot screen” that would ask new users which browsers they’d like installed.

Microsoft may be required to contractually ensure that the computer manufacturers it does business with leave the other browsers in place. Other browser purveyors, including Google, want Microsoft to go even further, sending out the alternative browsers to users as an automatic download. A final decision won’t be made for weeks. An EU spokesman said any action against Microsoft “would be based on the fundamental principle of unbiased choice.”

Microsoft founder Bill Gates arrives at the European Union Commission Headquarter in Brussels, Tuesday Jan. 27, 2009, for a meeting with European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates arrives at the European Union Commission Headquarter in Brussels, Tuesday Jan. 27, 2009, for a meeting with European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.   (AP Photo/Thierry Charlier)
European Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes gestures while speaking during a media conference regarding Microsoft at EU headquarters in Brussels, Monday Sept. 17, 2007.
European Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes gestures while speaking during a media conference regarding Microsoft at EU headquarters in Brussels, Monday Sept. 17, 2007.   (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates speaks during a ceremony in Bucharest, Romania, in this Thursday Feb.1 2007 file photo.
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates speaks during a ceremony in Bucharest, Romania, in this Thursday Feb.1 2007 file photo.   (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Rembrandt_Q_Einstein
May 31, 2009 1:37 AM CDT
MS already sell a browserless version of Windows in EU countries. This move is akin to making BMW offer the option to install Audi or Mercedes engines to the customer all based upon the principle of "unbiased choice". This is one of those occasions where the EU just looks petty and absurd. Everyone knows IE sucks anyway and the first and only time anyone uses IE is to download Firefox anyway, I call BS on this.
Nwambe
May 31, 2009 1:36 AM CDT
Totally agreed. On my Windows PC, I've only used IE to download Firefox.
Observer
May 30, 2009 6:36 AM CDT
MS means Monopoly Supplier doesn't it?

Way to fix a non-existent problem, EU
The Motley Fool

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Google • Microsoft • European Union • web browser • Internet Explorer • antitrust • Google Chrome

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