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Opera files antitrust complaint against Microsoft in the EU |
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Written by Felix Da Silva (fdasilva@bitnip.com)
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Friday, 14 December 2007 |
 Opera Software ASA, creator of the Opera browser, filed a complaint with the European Commission on December 12th against Microsoft. In the complaint, Opera describes how Microsoft is abusing its dominant position by tying
its browser, Internet Explorer, to the Windows operating system and by hindering
interoperability by not following accepted Web standards.
According to the press release issued by Opera, Opera has requested the Commission to take the necessary actions to compel
Microsoft to give consumers a real choice and to support open Web standards in
Internet Explorer.
Jon von Tetzchner, CEO of Opera said,
We are filing this complaint on behalf of all consumers who are tired of having
a monopolist make choices for them. In addition to promoting the free choice of individual consumers, we are a
champion of open Web standards and cross-platform innovation. We cannot rest
until we've brought fair and equitable options to consumers worldwide. Opera requests the Commission to implement two remedies to Microsoft’s abusive
actions.
First, it requests the Commission to obligate Microsoft to unbundle Internet
Explorer from Windows and/or carry alternative browsers pre-installed on the
desktop.
Second, it asks the European Commission to require Microsoft to follow
fundamental and open Web standards accepted by the Web-authoring communities.
Jason Hoida, Deputy General Counsel, of Opera said,
Our complaint is necessary to get Microsoft to amend its practices. The European Court of First Instance confirmed in September that Microsoft has
illegally tied Windows Media Player to Windows. We are simply asking the
Commission to apply these same, clear principles to the Internet Explorer tie, a
tie that has even more profound effects on consumers and innovation. We are
confident that the Commission understands the significance of the Internet
Explorer tie and will take the necessary actions to restore competition and
consumer choice in the browser market. Reading the press release made me feel that Opera is not really looking out for anyone except themselves. They seem to be trying to squeeze in how innovative they are and how we're doing this to give customers choices but in an insincere way. Then again, I'm not here to criticize their press release but the action they're taking against Microsoft.
I do agree that Microsoft seems to be abusing their dominant position as can be seen in the recent Windows Media case. However, this issue has been brought up before in the US.
In the case United States v. Microsoft, 87 F. Supp. 2d 30 (D.D.C. 2000), they tackled the exact issue of tying of Internet Explorer and the abuse of a dominant position. The decision by the DOJ did not require Microsoft to change any of its code nor prevent
Microsoft from tying other software with Windows in the future.
There are many criticisms of that particular decision handed out by the DOJ and I believe this is a good time to raise the issue again with the recent case against Microsoft with its Windows Media.
I personally think that this case could go either way but seeing as though the E.U. is harsher on Microsoft than the U.S. on similar cases and combine that with the recent decision against Microsoft, I'll put my money on Opera.
Although don't expect any decision or result any time soon. We'll hear the final outcome in a couple of years.
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