Opera files EU antitrust complaint against Microsoft

Opera Software, the Norwegian maker of web browsers, has filed the first complaint against Microsoft to the European Commission since the software giant lost a landmark antitrust case earlier this year.

Opera, backed by an industry coalition, said it has complained that Microsoft illegally ties its web browser, Internet Explorer, to its dominant Windows operating system.

Microsoft is also "hindering interoperability by not following accepted web standards," the company said.

Both factors make it difficult for Opera to compete, according to the company.

The complaint is the first against Microsoft since a 17 September ruling by the EU Court of First Instance upheld a 2004 landmark European Commission decision against the company on antitrust grounds. Opera is a member of the European Committee for Interoperable Systems (ECIS), a long-time opponent of Microsoft. ECIS issued a statement critical of the software giant.

"By tying its Internet Explorer product to its monopoly Windows operating system and refusing to faithfully implement industry-accepted open standards, Microsoft deprives consumers of a real choice in internet browsers," ECIS lawyer Thomas Vinje said in the statement.

Opera's complaint echoes a US case from 1998, in which the US Department of Justice won a major judgement against Microsoft for competing illegally against another browser, Netscape.

Opera asked the European Commission to force Microsoft to unbundle Internet Explorer. It also asked the European Commission to require Microsoft to follow "fundamental and open web standards".

Related Links:

• Go back to category Business to read more reviews and articles.
• Go back to Software Magazine's main page.