Microsoft pleads not guilty and defends IE

Earlier this week, Microsoft responded to European Commission complaints about integrating Internet Explorer into the Windows operating system. According to The New York Times, the document, which was transmitted by Microsoft representatives to the administration of the body on the evening of Tuesday, April 28, contains 250 pages.

Earlier

Back in 2007, Opera Software complained to the European Commission about Microsoft, accusing it of using dishonest business practices. For example, developers of the Opera web browser said that embedding Internet Explorer in every copy of Windows prevents healthy competition (after all, Opera itself cannot do this) and limits the choice of customers.

Subsequently, Mozilla (Firefox) and Google (Chrome) joined the complaint. In April 2009, IBM, Nokia, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, Red Hat, Adobe, and other members of the European non-profit organization ECIS joined it as third parties. As well as the European Free Software Foundation (FSFE).

Opera initially counted on the success of the case, which grew into a real campaign. According to its representatives, they have every chance of a positive outcome, since in 2004 Microsoft lost a similar lawsuit. In particular, the European Commission ordered the software giant to exclude from its operating system a program for playing audio and video files Windows Media Player. A huge fine was imposed on the software giant, however, he did not completely refuse WMP integration - versions of Windows without a player appeared only in Europe.

According to the party that filed the complaint, at best Microsoft could offer a Windows user one of the popular browsers to choose from and install it - because in the absence of IE in the system, the user will not be able to download any other browser.

Now

Details of the document from Microsoft were not disclosed. The Commission said that they are starting to study the arguments of the corporation. However, it is known for certain that the company did not plead guilty and, on the contrary, protects Internet Explorer, citing the fact that the share of the program has fallen and it is no longer the dominant market. According to Net Applications, IE has a 66.8% market share in the United States. According to Opera, the browser share in Europe is higher - 85%.

Microsoft asked the Commission to hold a final hearing on the case, which is scheduled to be closed. It is likely that this hearing will take place before the holiday season in the European government, that is, until July 2009.

According to W3Schools, in March 2009, the share of Internet Explorer 6, 7, and 8 versions was 17, 24.9, and 1.4%, respectively. Firefox accounts for 46.5%, Chrome 4.2%, Safari 3.1% and Opera 2.3%. Compared to March last year, the share of Firefox increased the most - from 37%.

Based on materials cnews.ru