EU commission accuses Microsoft of harming competition.
Microsoft has strategically put its web browser with the Windows OS since 1996. It is no secret that Microsoft has over the years has gained from this bundling. There have been many antitrust litigation in the US and EU over Microsoft’s hegemony and their continued insistence to offer Windows OS as a bundle.
Microsoft today controls about three fourths of browser market with Internet Explorer and the runner up Firefox is way behind at about one-fifth of the total web browsing market share. The European Commission’s decision to issue a notice to Microsoft comes a little too late, in fact after thirteen years. The commission has despatched a statement of objections to Microsoft and given two months time to respond. Europe’s antitrust watchdog has opined that Microsoft’s decision to include IE in its Windows OS basket kills competition amongst the other players like Mozilla’s Firefox, Apple’s Safari and Google’s Chrome. The statement in verbatim says “Microsoft’s tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice”.
Microsoft Inc and EU have been engaged in running battle over competition for many years now and Microsoft has been fined near about 1 billion Euros for abuse of its 95 percent hegemony over PC market. Microsoft has said they are studying the statement and shall be responding to it formally within the stipulated time frame.
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