EU accuses Microsoft of IE monopoly
By Mike Ferro
The relationship between the European Commission and Microsoft has been a rocky one at best. The company has had a few run-ins with the EU in the past for antitrust related issues. It seems that the European Commission is at it again accusing Microsoft of anti-competitive practices with the Internet Explorer.
According to BBC News, the commission has reached a preliminary decision that Microsoft is infringing on EU rules as well as holding a monopoly with Microsoft’s browser, Internet Explorer (IE). Apparently the commission feels that by bundling IE with every Windows operating system the company is in fact subtly undermining consumer choice.
The commission said, “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 wasn’t all that long ago when the EU fined Microsoft $1.4 billion over similar anti-competitive issues. However, it looks like the EU isn’t finished with the software giant yet. The commission has given Microsoft eight weeks to respond, where the company could request for a formal hearing.
It is a bit surprising as to why it took the EU so long to even accuse Microsoft of tacking on IE in Windows when considering that the company has been bundling both products for many years. The software company has faced similar criticism in the US regarding the bundling of the IE browser within Windows.
During the US vs Microsoft case, the company was asked to make it possible for users to uninstall Internet Explorer if they wanted to. Microsoft argued that Windows would become unstable without IE. It is interesting to see how things play out between the EU and Microsoft.
I am sure the commission will fine Microsoft again, and the company will probably fight it and eventually pay out. However, I have a strong suspicion that Microsoft will never detach IE from Windows.
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Entry was posted
on Saturday, January 17th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
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