Microsoft Ordered to Delete Browser

Associated Press / New York Times ^ | January 16, 2009

[reaganaut1]

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union said Friday that Microsoft’s practice of selling the Internet Explorer browser together with its Windows operating system violated the union’s antitrust rules.

It ordered the software giant to untie the browser from its operating system in the 27-nation union, enabling makers of rival browsers to compete fairly.

“Microsoft’s tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between Web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice,” the E.U. said in a statement.

It gave Microsoft eight weeks to respond, adding that the company could defend its position in a hearing if it found that useful.

[reaganaut1]

It's not the business of government to tell Microsoft what it can include in its operating system. There is no Windows "monopoly". People can use Mac OS X or Linux. Microsoft has so much market share because it does not operate as a vertical monopolist as Apple does. It licenses its operating system to many manufacturers, resulting in lower costs to consumers.

It is convenient for Windows to come with the Internet Explorer browser, and they can install alternatives such as FireFox in a few minutes. What's the problem?

[SeeSharp]

M$ ought to just tell the EU to live without Windows and Office from now on.

[Fzob]

Mircosoft should simply ignore these fools just to see what happens.

[Sparky1776]

“..............could defend its position in a hearing if it found that useful.”

[wolfpat]

You’re right. What can they do? Microsoft probably has more money than the EU, so they can’t hurt them there.

For all the problems with Microsoft, just think that most of us wouldn’t even have a computer if Microsoft hadn’t made it easy for us.

[CaspersGh0sts]

I’m trying to think of an alternative means of someone who isn’t that familiar with computers installing an internet browser, and it’s not coming to mind very easily.

How did I install FireFox? Well, I logged onto Internet Explorer, typed in FireFox into Google, and downloaded it.

These anti-Microsoft fools are making life harder on everyone.

[Fresh Wind]

Careful, you’re not allowed to say anything negative about Apple or anything positive about Microsoft on this board.

[mainepatsfan]

You watch Microsoft will just have it programmed to automatically download with Windows Update anyways.

[Erik Latranyi]

Microsoft probably has more money than the EU...

Which is why these lawsuits are happening!

[Nateman]

I'm no fan of Microsoft : I made this post made using a Puppy Linux live cd on a computer with Windows on the hard drive. This meddling is worse. People are already free to download Linux at no cost so this interference is even more unjustified than normal.

[livius]

Jealous little EU. Any time anything is successful, it becomes a target for them. They’ve been after Microsoft for years.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

I am curious how the Free Trader/Globalists are going to explain this one away...

Microsoft has no choice but to follow the EU....or they will lose a lucrative market. Lets see them try to recoup their European losses by selling to low-paid Asians and Latin Americans (good luck). Maybe they can adjust their browsers to not allow Falun Gong or Christian websites in Communist China...

I really have little sympathy for Microsoft....for they are so quick to fire Americans and hire foreigners....and campaign for the US to bring in illegals and H1-B visas. Their push to de-Americanize themselves has hit a huge roadblock...and their options are either bad...or not so good.

[Woodman]

Oh like Safari was trying to do with iTunes updater.

The problem with decoupling IE is that it really isn't decoupled. Outlook and Explorer are both intertwined with the functionality as is the desktop and menus. Uninstalling IE on any windows OS since Win95 would render the GUI almost inoperable.

[gunnyg]

AAARRRUUUUUUUUUGGGAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

Semper Fidelis
Dick G
~~~~~

[grjr21]

violated the union’s antitrust rules.

Does DeBeers know that they have anti trust rules in Europe

[gunnyg]

*** Gill Bates!

[billorites]

I've been playing around with the IE 8.0 Beta browser and it's pretty good.

Certainly the best browser Microsoft has yet produced.

For that matter, the Windows 7 Beta rocks as well. I installed it over my Vista OS several days ago and haven't looked back. Very exciting products.

[svxdave]

No sorrow here. Microsoft cheats. Microsoft used its operating system to promote Word which killed off Word Perfect. Microsoft used its operating system to promote Excel which killed off Lotus 1,2,3. Microsoft used its operating system to promote Explorer which killed off Netscape.

Microsoft stole Apple’s technology to develop Windows. Apple only responded in court too late and too little.

No question about it, Microsoft cheats.

[sig226]

Europe is going to be forced to buy something, and the thing will have to work. That’s irony.

[DB]

The EU is filled with geniuses...

So how can one download a competitive browser on one’s new OS installation if there's no browser at all? Going to have to have a browser installation CD on hand first... What about all the OS patches and drivers required on a new installation all requiring a browser?

Microsoft ought to remove it just to spite the EU. Then see how the people feel about their retarded bureaucrats in charge...