Just when we all thought that things
were finally dying down
for Microsoft in the European Commission-based anti-trust case there is
now
more fuel to add to the fire.
Opera Software ASA, maker of the
Opera web browser,
yesterday officially
filed a complaint with the European Commission regarding
Microsoft's
inclusion of Internet Explorer with Windows. Opera wants the EU to
force
Microsoft to provide users with a choice of web browser to use.
"We are filing this complaint on
behalf of all
consumers who are tired of having a monopolist make choices for them,"
said Opera CEO Jon von Tetzchner. "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 is seeking the following
actions from the EU to
"keep Microsoft in line" with respects to its competitors:
- Remove
Internet Explorer from its Windows
operating systems. Opera is also asking that Microsoft allow for other
web
browsers to be pre-installed with Windows along with desktop icons for
each
respective browser.
- Force
Microsoft to comply with open Web
standards brought forth by Web-authoring communities.
"Our complaint is necessary to get
Microsoft to amend
its practices," said Jason Hoida, Deputy General Counsel for Opera.
"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."
As many may recall, Microsoft finally
gave up its fight with the EU in late October. The Redmond,
Washington-based company came under fire for its monopolistic business
practices in Europe and was ordered to pay a fine of $710 million USD.
In addition, Microsoft was also
forced to provide interoperability
information to its software competitors and reduce the royalties for
its
software licenses and patents. To add insult to injury, Microsoft was
also
forced to pay 80 percent of the European Commission’s legal
fees.
