Microsoft, EC Settle Antitrust Case

The European Union’s suit against Microsoft over bundling has finally been settled, though as Datamation reports, the EU’s European Commission will continue to monitor Microsoft’s compliance with the terms.

Microsoft’s long-running feud with the European Commission (EC) may finally be at an end — or maybe not.

Neelie Kroes, the outgoing commissioner for competition in the EC, announced Wednesday morning in Brussels that the EC has settled its latest antitrust case against the software giant regarding bundling of Internet Explorer (IE) with Windows going back to 1996.

Under the deal’s terms, Microsoft will provide a “choice screen” on PCs sold within the European Economic Area that lets users choose which of a dozen or so browsers they would like to set as their default. The screen will be made available for five years and will enable users of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 to choose from a randomly displayed list of browsers. The choice screen will be provided to users via Windows Update.

The agreement will also let PC makers basically remove IE and substitute a different browser if they wish.

Read the full story at Datamation:


Microsoft Settles With the European Commission