Microsoft does not admit guilt and protects IE

Earlier this week, Microsoft responded to complaints from the European Commission about the integration of the Internet Explorer web browser into the Windows operating system. According to The New York Times, the document, which was handed over by representatives of the Microsoft Authority Administration on Tuesday evening, April 28, contains 250 pages.

Earlier

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

Subsequently, Mozilla (Firefox) and Google (Chrome) joined this complaint. In April 2009, IBM, Nokia, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, Red Hat, Adobe and other members of the European nonprofit organization ECIS joined as third parties. As well as the European Free Software Foundation (FSFE).
')
Opera initially counted on the success of a business that had grown into a real campaign. According to its representatives, they have every chance of a positive outcome of the case, 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; nevertheless, it did not completely abandon WMP integration - Windows versions without a player appeared only in Europe.

According to the side that filed the complaint, at best, Microsoft could offer the Windows user one of the popular browsers to choose from and install it - after all, if there is no IE in the system, the user simply cannot 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 precisely known that the company did not recognize its fault and, on the contrary, protects Internet Explorer, citing the fact that the program’s share has fallen, and it is no longer the dominant market. According to Net Applications, IE’s share of the US market is 66.8%. 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. The share of Firefox is 46.5%, Chrome is 4.2%, Safari is 3.1% and Opera is 2.3%. Compared to March of last year, the share of Firefox increased the most - from 37%.

Based on cnews.ru