Opera tries to force IE into W3C compliance with EU complaint

[kgun]

Microsoft looks to have another Europe-sized antitrust headache on its hands. Norwegian browser maker Opera has filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission, accusing Microsoft of abusing its dominant position in the browser market by tying Internet Explorer to Windows and by not complying with W3C web standards when it comes to how IE renders pages.

Read more ...

There are a lot of news on Opera and Microsoft and Internet Explorer.

Here are a few:
Opera files antitrust complaint with the EU

"The complaint describes how Microsoft is abusing its dominant position by tying its browser, Internet Explorer, to the Windows operating system and by hindering interoperability by not following accepted Web standards. Opera has requested the Commission to take the necessary actions to compel Microsoft to give consumers a real choice and to support open Web standards in Internet Explorer".

For an economist this is of utmost importance:

"We are filing this complaint on behalf of all consumers who are tired of having a monopolist make choices for them," said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO of Opera. "In addition to promoting the free choice of individual consumers, we are a champion of open Web standards and cross-platform innovation. We cannot rest until we've brought fair and equitable options to consumers worldwide."

Personally I do not agree to a monopolist. Microsoft is not a monopolist, but have a monopolistic (or market leader) position in parts of the IT-industry. That is far from identical concepts to an economist.

I have bolded the most important words.

» Opera files complaint against Microsoft in the EU over IE, Windows bundle; CTO makes Web standards case | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com

Opera drags Microsoft to EU-Intl Business-Business-The Times of India

Opera opens new round in browser battles - Yahoo! News

[wige]

This all sounds very familiar. Wasn't it the Mozilla Group (and Sun Microsystems) that brought suit against Microsoft in the US a few years ago in an antitrust case, over the same type of issues - proprietary browser functionality and use of monopoly powers to limit the usability of browser software from other companies.

[kgun]

Yes, may be, but that browser is bad both for surfers and web masters and your free choice is "restricted" when you buy a new computer ...

It should be a blessing for the world if Microsoft improved their web browser, before buying more search engines.

Related link:
http://www.webproworld.com/yahoo-dis...tml#post358729

[cw1865]

I agree, the way they do it raises prices for consumers and will stifle innovation. Right now if you were to tell me that you were going to start up a company to make a better web broswer, AND EVEN ASSUMING THAT YOU COULD, I'd tell you that you were crazy.....

[kgun]

Even if it were the best search engine in the world, it would most probably get less than one per cent of the market in the forseeable future. I am 60 years old.

[kgun]

Somebody that has updated information on the status?