Competition Laws: Microsoft 7 without IE in Europe
The European Commission ruling is having an affect: Microsoft will market its new operating system in Europe without Internet Explorer.
In his blog, Microsoft lawyer and Vice President Dave Heiner, says the company was “working to fulfill its legal obligations in Europe for Windows 7” and goes on to explain how a pending legal case has raised concerns about the level of competition among browsers in Europe. He writes that Microsoft “must comply with European competition law” and adds “ we’ve decided that instead of including Internet Explorer in Windows 7 in Europe, we will offer it separately.”
Manufacturers have been informed of Microsoft's plans in an effort to keep the targeted release date of October 22. As a means of identification, the European version of Windows 7 will have an E added to the title. Manufacturers have also been told to install a browser of their choice so users can begin to surf the web immediately after purchase.
In an interview with the legal platform Groklaw, a member of the European Commission described the move as “a step in the right direction, but far from enough.” and the Microsoft attorney already has a guess. Heiner writes further, “Our decision to only offer IE separately from Windows 7 in Europe cannot, of course, preclude the possibility of alternative approaches emerging through Commission processes.”
In February 2008 the Commission served Microsoft a record fine of $900 million for breaking European competition rules. The reason was the tight linking of software applications to the operating system, making it difficult for competitors to develop alternatives. In January 2009, after a complaint by the browser company Opera, the European Commission again warned Microsoft its browser was too closely connected to Windows. The complaint was supported by the Free Software Foundation Europe, Google and Mozilla.
Issue 255/2022
Buy this issue as a PDF
News
-
Linux Mint 20.3 Now Available
That latest release of Linux Mint is now available for general use and offers a polished, but less Mint-y theme.
-
Linux is Getting an Exciting New Firmware Feature
Intel is bringing a new driver to the 5.17 kernel that will make it possible to update firmware without a reboot.
-
Elementary OS 6.1 Has Been Released
The .1 version of the sixth iteration of elementary OS (named Odin) is now available for download and takes the distribution to new heights of refinement.
-
Linux Mint 20.3 Beta is Now Available
The developers of Linux Mint have made the beta of their latest release available for download and installation.
-
EndeavorOS 21.4 Has Arrived
Arch-based EndeavorOS 21.4 is finally available for download with plenty of new features and improvements.
-
NixOS 21.11 Now Available for Download
NixOS “Porcupine” has been made available for installation and includes numerous improvements.
-
KDE Plasma Developers Introduce a GNOME-Like Overview
A new overview effect makes it easier for users to interact with both Plasma Activities and Virtual Desktops.
-
Rocky Linux 8.5 Now Available with Secure Boot Support
The latest iteration of CentOS alternative, Rocky Linux has arrived and includes numerous updates as well as support for Secure Boot.
-
System76 Developing a New Desktop Environment
The makers of Pop!_OS are currently in the early stages of creating a brand new, non-GNOME, desktop environment.
-
Hetzner Opens New Location in the USA
The Hetzner cost-effective Cloud solution has arrived in the United States to offer cloud servers that offer solid performance without a high price.