[VOOK]

European Union slams Microsoft over Internet Explorer .... again

Quote

THE European Union has accused Microsoft of smothering competition by bundling its Internet Explorer web browser with Windows, in the latest round of a long battle with the software giant.

The union reached a preliminary view that the company, which controls about three-quarters of the web browser market, prevented rival browsers from competing and had violated rules by abusing its dominant position.

Microsoft had eight weeks to reply to a "statement of objections" and was warned it may be fined if the union confirmed the preliminary findings.

The software giant has had to shell out more than $US1 billion ($1.5 billion) in fines to the commission in the past.

In its report, the executive wing of the union said it had reached a preliminary view that the bundling of Internet Explorer and Windows was anti-competitive.

"Microsoft's tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice," it said.

"If the preliminary views expressed in the statement of objection are confirmed, the Commission may impose a fine on Microsoft, require Microsoft to cease the abuse and impose a remedy that would restore genuine consumer choice and enable competition on the merits."

Microsoft and the EU have engaged in a running spat over competition issues for years.

The US company has been fined several times for allegedly abusing its 95 per cent dominance of personal computer systems through its ubiquitous Windows software.

"This case is about the future, about maintaining an open and dynamic internet," said Thomas Vinje, a Clifford Chance lawyer representing ECIS, a non-profit organization that promotes market conditions in the tech sector.

"Microsoft has achieved ubiquity for Internet Explorer. This ubiquity distorts competition and favours Microsoft's monopolies in ways completely unrelated to the merits of Microsoft's products."

Microsoft said in a separate statement that it was studying the Commission's views and did not rule out requesting a formal hearing.

It cited the Commission as saying that remedies put in place by US courts in 2002 after antitrust proceedings also did not make Windows-Explorer bundling lawful.

"We are committed to conducting our business in full compliance with European law," the company said.

In 1998 Microsoft was involved in a famous "antitrust" case after being sued by the US Department of Justice over its bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows.

The integration of the two products was a major factor in the demise of Microsoft's rival in the web browser market at the time, Netscape.

Microsoft's main rivals in the browser market today are Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari and Google Chrome.

In September Google signalled a new round of "browser wars" by announcing it planned to poach "tens of millions" of users from rivals, but has yet to seriously threaten Microsoft.

"Most users don't recognise that there are things called 'browsers' which they have a choice in," said Google vice president of product management Sundar Pichai.

"Most people... just accept the one browser that is given to them."

I have one question, if you get rid of IE in Windows - how do you get Firefox?

People on IE stop using it!

[Tom The Bomb]

When I install a new OS I just use IE to download another browser.

I dont understand how they can sue microsoft for putting IE in its own OS?

Also, will Adobe sue microsoft for having Paint bundled with windows?

[Akiyo]

VOOK, on Jan 20 2009, 01:16 PM, said:

People on IE stop using it!

I did, stop yelling at me. D=

[MLTZER]

yeah, its almost like saying its not fair that holden put holden parts in their car..... its a stupid argument. Just cause its there dont mean you have to use it.

And yeah... if windows didnt come with a browser then how are you ment to download one?

[popolopolous]

I'm not angry at the fact that Microsoft bundles IE with Windows; it makes things easier for most people when they buy a PC and gives everyone with Windows a browser they can switch from if they know what they're doing. What I'm angry at is the refusal from Microsoft to acknowledge other browsers exist - the Microsoft Update site insists on only having IE visit it, and that IE can't be uninstalled.

Mind you, it seems to me these accuser people have double standards: what about media players? I'd prefer to have neither IE nor WMP installed with Windows, as both are not uninstallable and I don't want either of them :\

[santouras]

as long as alternatives can be used, I don't see the issue with this

[Tom The Bomb]

popolopolous, on Jan 20 2009, 02:27 PM, said:

I'm not angry at the fact that Microsoft bundles IE with Windows; it makes things easier for most people when they buy a PC and gives everyone with Windows a browser they can switch from if they know what they're doing. What I'm angry at is the refusal from Microsoft to acknowledge other browsers exist - the Microsoft Update site insists on only having IE visit it, and that IE can't be uninstalled.

Mind you, it seems to me these accuser people have double standards: what about media players? I'd prefer to have neither IE nor WMP installed with Windows, as both are not uninstallable and I don't want either of them :\

10 years ago you couldnt use windows update with another browser, 10 years ago you couldnt un-install IE. (well you could but it would fux your computer). What version of windows do you have popo? >_>

[popolopolous]

Yes I know. And I want change.

[WithTheDawn]

Meh, who cares. IE is fine for the majority of people that just use the net for very basic stuff anyway. Most people who actually use the internet to any real extent will be both aware and able to get the alternatives.

[Obscurus]

Ohwow. What percentige of the EU are old people again? 99%? >__>

Ofcorse M$ is going to bundle their programs with their operating systems. I'd be angry if they didnt. Hell, they should put MORE of their programs in with the OS.
If they threw in AoE in their OS, could gaming companies sue them?


... would it be fair to use Apple for them throwing in all their shite into their OSX? Its the same thing.

[indevelopment]

Tom The Bomb, on Jan 20 2009, 01:55 PM, said:

Also, will Adobe sue microsoft for having Paint bundled with windows?

No but Adobe may well bring up some anti-competition mutterings with Microsoft now bundling their XPS Document Writer virtual printer with Win7... thus cutting into acrobat's market.

I am just glad that Internet Explorer is no longer as tightly integrated with Explorer, people are always going to use it just like the apple-peeps that swear by safari (me, I just swear at Safari).

[lexielab]

The EU is just trying to break the Windows monopoly. If they go about it in a crazy way, well they're Europe, you know?

indevelopment said:

I am just glad that Internet Explorer is no longer as tightly integrated with Explorer, people are always going to use it just like the apple-peeps that swear by safari (me, I just swear at Safari).

I use Safari with my Mac, but that's because I find it more stable than Firefox. If I was using a PC, I'd probably be doing something else.

[karnophage]

I detest Safari. I use Firefox, and haven't had any issues. On Windows though, I'm a Chrome man.

I think these EU guys really need to get over it. Windows is a Microsoft product, so really, they should be able to make it how they want. It's up to other OS manufacturers to make their product easier to use, IF PEOPLE WANT TOO. Most people are happy with Windows as it is. If you don't want to use it, then just don't.

[lexielab]

I think their argument is that Windows is so anti-competitive that other OS' can't get a foothold in the market. As far as ease of use goes, I don't think that figures much in actual sales.

[popolopolous]

I'm an avid Firefox user, but Windows insists on keeping IE as the standard browser for stuff it launches. I also use Winamp over WMP, and although WMP is less intrusive I still aren't keen on simply having it cluttering my hard drive. I don't care if Microsoft bundles software with the OS, I just wish it was uninstallable, giving people a real choice.

[Ninja Catfish]

So why aren't they hounding Apple for including Safari with OS X?

I don't use IE, but I still see no reason why MS can't include it in their own operating system.

And if they included alternatives people would moan about bloatware!

[Nibbler]

If you uninstalled IE, there will be some websites that wont work. Some demand you run IE for the page to load and with the MS site and updates you need to open it for Active X and Alkali(or wtf its called) to run.

Ive been using FF ever since it was released back in 2004.

I have avoided IE like the plague, but there are still some things that you can only run with it.