Microsoft, European Commission Near Resolution On Browser Dispute
The European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union countries, issued a statement Wednesday indicating that it favors a proposal from Microsoft to offer European consumers a choice of browsers through a "ballot screen." The EC, which to this point has been informally seeking reaction to the plan, also said it has issued a formal "market-test notice" seeking comment on the proposal.
In a press conference in Brussels Wednesday, competition commissioner Neelie Kroes said she believes the EC and Microsoft are close to resolving the dispute, according to a story in The New York Times.
In January the EC issued a "statement of objections" that said Microsoft's practice of bundling the IE browser with Windows violated European antitrust laws. At one point Microsoft said it would sell Windows, including the upcoming Windows 7 desktop operating system, without any browser. But in July it changed course and proposed allowing consumers to choose a browser through use of a ballot screen.
The European Commission statement said Microsoft has since refined its proposal, including offering "tell me more" buttons that would provide consumers with information about each available browser. Microsoft also has agreed to be subject to an EC review to ensure it's giving consumers "a genuine choice among browsers," the commission said.
"The commission's preliminary view is that Microsoft's commitments would address these competition concerns and is market-testing Microsoft's proposal," the statement said.
The European Commission also appeared to approve of proposals from Microsoft to improve the ways it discloses information to allow interoperability between Microsoft software, including Windows, Exchange, Office and SharePoint, and products developed by other companies.
Kroes, at the Brussells briefing, said she has "good grounds for thinking we are moving towards a very satisfactory resolution" of the case, according to The New York Times article.
The statement said the European Commission would seek comment on the Microsoft plan for one month. After that the commission will work with Microsoft to put the proposal into a formal commitment that could result in fines if Microsoft fails to comply.