Tag: EU
Random Thoughts on EU and MS Case
Just some random thoughts of mine. Some people might even call it troll-o-rama…
1. Where the line should be drawn? Should Windows include alternative browsers only? Or also alternatives to WordPad, Paint, Calculator, etc. as long as those are free?
2. If it happens that Microsoft will be forced to ship Windows with other web browsers, how many of the alternatives should it have? 5, 50, 500 or 5000?
3. If other people are not aware of other web browsers, such as Firefox, Safari, Chrome or Opera, what makes you think that they will actually select and trust “unknown” one during setup?
EU Extends MS Response Deadline
As per Microsoft Corp. request, European Commission has extended the deadline till which they have to respond to the charges.
The new deadline is April 21, 2009.
FSFE Engages in the EU Browser Case
From FSFEurope
“Free Software Foundation Europe today announces that it will support the European Commission’s antitrust investigation against Microsoft and to this effect it has formally requested to be admitted as an interested third party.”
Continue reading at FSFEurope
Thanks to mabdul for sending this.
Europe: Microsoft’s Behavior Has Changed, Interop Docs Already Complete
From Beta News
“The European Commission will scale back its oversight of Microsoft’s documentation efforts, says a statement which makes some surprising concessions.”
…
“The 2004 Statement of Objections is a separate affair from the Statement issued in January, which concerns the EC’s objections to Microsoft continuing to bundle Internet Explorer with Windows.”
Take That, EU. Internet Explorer is Optional
The latest Windows 7 Build 7048 offers a pleasant (and not announced) change. You can now actually remove Internet Explorer 8 from Windows.
To uninstall Internet Explorer 8 from Windows 7
Go to Control Panel
Open Programs
Click Turn Windows features on or off
Deselect Internet Explorer 8 Continue Reading
EU to Oblige Microsoft to Offer Competitors Browsers
The European Commission will require Microsoft to give users of its ubiquitous Windows operating system the opportunity to choose between different Internet browsers to avoid breaching EU competition rules, the bloc’s antitrust spokesman told EurActiv.
Although the Commission is still officially waiting for a response from Microsoft to the complaints raised last January, the outcome of this new battle with the IT giant is already taking form.
Fun Continues: Microsoft, EU and Opera Software
According to TheRegister.co.uk, the European Commission may force PC users to choose between Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and other browsers when they set up a new machine.
Shareholders were also warned about a “significant” (probably more than 1 billion) fine by EU. I guess that money will fill up some holes in EU budget, especially during recession.
Microsoft also said that such a ruling might require that OEMs distribute browsers from the company’s rivals along with IE on new PCs.
Also, Microsoft might be required to disable “certain unspecified Internet Explorer software code” if the user chooses a competing browser.
I wonder how many web browsers there will be. 4 most popular or hundreds of them to avoid law suits from other web browser makers….
[digg-reddit-me]
