According to the European Commission, other browsers are foreclosed from competing because Windows includes Microsoft's own browser.
The European Commission has accused Microsoft of violating European competition law by including Internet Explorer with its Windows operating system. In its statement, the European 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."
As per the EU, other browsers are prevented from competing with IE because Windows includes Microsoft's own browser. Microsoft has included IE with its Windows operating system since 1996.
Yesterday Microsoft received a Statement of Objections from the directorate general for competition of the European Commission. The Statement of Objections expresses the Commission’s preliminary view that the inclusion of Internet Explorer in Windows since 1996 has violated European competition law. According to the Statement of Objections, other browsers are foreclosed from competing because Windows includes Internet Explorer. The Statement of Objections states that the remedies put in place by the US courts in 2002 following antitrust proceedings in Washington, D.C. do not make the inclusion of Internet Explorer in Windows lawful under European Union law.
Microsoft now has two months to issue a written response to the directorate general.
Microsoft said in a statement, "We are committed to conducting our business in full compliance with European law. We are studying the Statement of Objections now. Under European competition law procedure, Microsoft will be afforded an opportunity to respond in writing to this Statement of Objections within about two months. The company is also afforded an opportunity to request a hearing, which would take place after the submission of this response. Under EU procedure, the European Commission will not make a final determination until after it receives and assesses Microsoft’s response and conducts the hearing, should Microsoft request one."
This is not the first time the EU accuses Microsoft of curbing Web browser rivalry. The EU and Microsoft have engaged in legal battles over competition issues for years.
Microsoft encountered turmoil in March 2004 when antitrust legal action was brought against it by the European Union for abusing its current dominance with the Windows operating system, eventually resulting in a judgment to produce new versions of its Windows XP platform—called Windows XP Home Edition N and Windows XP Professional N—that did not include its Windows Media Player, as well as a fine of €497 million ($613 million).
Microsoft announced on 21 February 2008 that it will share more information about its products and technology in order to make it easier for developers to create software that works with its products. However, the European Union continued to demonstrate its dissatisfaction with the company for its lack of compliance with the March 2004 judgment and subsequently, on 27 February 2008 imposed an additional fine of €899 million ($1.4 billion), the largest fine in the history of EU competition policy.
The European Commission has accused Microsoft of violating European competition law by including Internet Explorer with its Windows operating system. In its statement, the European 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."
As per the EU, other browsers are prevented from competing with IE because Windows includes Microsoft's own browser. Microsoft has included IE with its Windows operating system since 1996.
Yesterday Microsoft received a Statement of Objections from the directorate general for competition of the European Commission. The Statement of Objections expresses the Commission’s preliminary view that the inclusion of Internet Explorer in Windows since 1996 has violated European competition law. According to the Statement of Objections, other browsers are foreclosed from competing because Windows includes Internet Explorer. The Statement of Objections states that the remedies put in place by the US courts in 2002 following antitrust proceedings in Washington, D.C. do not make the inclusion of Internet Explorer in Windows lawful under European Union law.
Microsoft now has two months to issue a written response to the directorate general.
Microsoft said in a statement, "We are committed to conducting our business in full compliance with European law. We are studying the Statement of Objections now. Under European competition law procedure, Microsoft will be afforded an opportunity to respond in writing to this Statement of Objections within about two months. The company is also afforded an opportunity to request a hearing, which would take place after the submission of this response. Under EU procedure, the European Commission will not make a final determination until after it receives and assesses Microsoft’s response and conducts the hearing, should Microsoft request one."
This is not the first time the EU accuses Microsoft of curbing Web browser rivalry. The EU and Microsoft have engaged in legal battles over competition issues for years.
Microsoft encountered turmoil in March 2004 when antitrust legal action was brought against it by the European Union for abusing its current dominance with the Windows operating system, eventually resulting in a judgment to produce new versions of its Windows XP platform—called Windows XP Home Edition N and Windows XP Professional N—that did not include its Windows Media Player, as well as a fine of €497 million ($613 million).
Microsoft announced on 21 February 2008 that it will share more information about its products and technology in order to make it easier for developers to create software that works with its products. However, the European Union continued to demonstrate its dissatisfaction with the company for its lack of compliance with the March 2004 judgment and subsequently, on 27 February 2008 imposed an additional fine of €899 million ($1.4 billion), the largest fine in the history of EU competition policy.
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