Opera files a case against Microsoft

[NucleusKore]

Opera Software said Thursday it is filing a complaint against Microsoft in the European Union alleging the software giant is abusing its power and tying Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system. Opera also has a beef about Microsoft’s support for Web standards.

In its complaint, Opera argues that:

“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.”

This argument is sounding pretty familiar as Microsoft has repeatedly been in hot water over tying IE and Windows together. That’s what the scrum with the Department of Justice years ago was about.

However, Opera is likely to find a more receptive audience in the EU, which isn’t exactly a fan of Microsoft’s. I’m no lawyer, but if the EU had a beef with tying Windows Media Player and Windows together it only stands to reason that it will have a similar ruling about IE.

Read On
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=7332&tag=nl.e622

[naveen_reloaded]

Wtf, if apple does this...no one ask's..
But if ms does everybody jumps in..what a world?

[NucleusKore]

You have a point. Besides they did not prevent other browsers from being installed on windows.

What Opera is sayng is when you bundle IE with Windows, the person, especially if he is a newcomer, is going to use what is readily available and the question of downloading and installing other browsers does not arise. This becomes a problem because Microsoft has more than the lion's share of the OS market. They can call the shots with everything that cames with their OS. That comes with added responsibility. Why not Apple? In terms of marketshare they have a LONG LONG way to go, the statistics speak for themselves.

But the case here is more about web standards (read above article)

[The_Devil_Himself]

^^yea I agree with the web standards issue,Have seen many web developers complaining that they have to make 2 copies of every webpage--one for all web broswers(standard) and the other exclusively for IE.M$ should atleast stick to the widely accepted standards.

And yea opera is sure to win the case in Europe. Europe is so fugging cool.

[ray|raven]

Go Opera

Regards,
ray

[Zeeshan Quireshi]

Whimsical remarks of a Product whose market share is rapidly depleting .

This way they should file a case against Canonical(Ubunutu) , Apple , n all other PS making companies as virtually all Operating System's bundle a browser with them .

ANd , all these companies file the "product bundling" cases in "European Union" only because they know that the EU is already biased against Microsoft and they can get away with these cases .

First it was over Windows Media Player , now IE .

After some time they'll say don't bundle notepad as this is not giving the user a real choice .

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by NucleusKore

What Opera is sayng is when you bundle IE with Windows, the person, especially if he is a newcomer, is going to use what is readily available and the question of downloading and installing other browsers does not arise. This becomes a problem because Microsoft has more than the lion's share of the OS market. They can call the shots with everything that cames with their OS. That comes with added responsibility. Why not Apple? In terms of marketshare they have a LONG LONG way to go, the statistics speak for themselves.

Suppose MS provides Vista without any browser, how will u download Opera then

Web standards,,,....Ok, IE 7 isn't the best for this out there, but MS is changing it with IE 8 anyway with the Expression HTML engine in IE 8. What the hell does Opera wants? A new version with better standard compliency...well, have patience opera, it is coming after which people might not need Opera anymore with IE 8 Pro

[utsav]

lol.its a old news for me just visit my blog.i posted this news yesterday. u r one day late

[ax3]

LOL .......

@gx_saurav ..... u have agreat point ........

[Batistabomb]

Opera rocks, the performance of IE is worst in LAN environment isn't it

[iMav]

we cant beat u so we will sue u

[x3060]

opera is a good browser . . no complaints , there , why the hell they want to get in to sue business

[Cool G5]

Opera Rocks.

[naveen_reloaded]

Gx saurav superb fact..without ie how can one download opera?
Stupids..
I dont get the point..i company wants to give its own product along with os, what is the problem.tom vlc will complain about wmp11, windows blinds about themes.,yahoo about msn,google about search...

Then ms has to remove nearly all the component and will be nude...
They are just stupids...

Carry on ms...

But i like opera...

[Zeeshan Quireshi]

Same here , i Too don't have any probs with Opera but wy the hell do they make these foolish claims .

It is but natural for a company to sell it's own products , you wouldn't expect microsoft to bundle iTunes along with windows .

Similarly , MS can sue that why does Opera's Default installation has it's home-page set to Opera.com , the user should be given a choice to choose his homepage on installation

[iMav]

Originally Posted by naveen_reloaded

I dont get the point..i company wants to give its own product along with os, what is the problem.tom vlc will complain about wmp11, windows blinds about themes.,yahoo about msn,google about search...

ah as a matter of act:

real networks sued MS in EU for bundling WMP with windows - EU ruling MS should give a version without WMP

Google sued MS for having live search as default search in IE - ruling fcuk off google

google sued MS for amazing integration of windows instant search in vista - ruling MS shud allow competition

norton sued ms for making sure that vista is very secure - ruling fcuk u MS u r not allowed to make ur OS secure

[Zeeshan Quireshi]

as i said EU is biased and totally anti-MS , that's why these companies file cases against MSFT in EU .

[Indyan]

I have been a long time Opera user and supporter. But I dont fully agree with this move (or most of the antitrust moves).
As others have said its ridiculous to force MS to make their product (Windows) less productive. Look around. All OS including Leopard(Mac), and various Linux distros come preloaded with multiple softwares(including web browser). So why pick on only MS? Why not sue apple also for carrying Safari?

I absolutely agree with demand #2 though. But again there is the question. Can you punish someone for making and distributing a bad software?

[The_Devil_Himself]

Originally Posted by Indyan

I absolutely agree with demand #2 though. But again there is the question. Can you punish someone for making and distributing a bad software?

yea sure if you're an european.They are more consumer oriented unlike us and US.

[Batistabomb]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Suppose MS provides Vista without any browser, how will u download Opera then

Web standards,,,....Ok, IE 7 isn't the best for this out there, but MS is changing it with IE 8 anyway with the Expression HTML engine in IE 8. What the hell does Opera wants? A new version with better standard compliency...well, have patience opera, it is coming after which people might not need Opera anymore with IE 8 Pro

we don't even think this while responding to msg, you are right dear

[Indyan]

Originally Posted by The_Devil_Himself

yea sure if you're an european.They are more consumer oriented unlike us and US.

I doubt it. Because IE is free and no one is forcing you to use it. I think they can only be held liable if they spread false info about their product which they are not.

[narangz]

@Devil- Then why not Apple & Linux distros are also slapped with anti-trust suites in EU?

1. AFAIK IE is not the default browser unless user launches it in Vista. Even the quick launch icon appears after IE7 is launched once.
2. WMP11 in Vista is not the default MP. You have to execute it & then select what files you want to be associated with WMP11. The quick launch icon appears only after it is launched once from the program menu.

[The_Devil_Himself]

^^apple:No Idea maybe cos very less people use it.

Linux:lols,They are mostly free of cost you see and you can use whichever compatible browser you like and let me tell you not all give firefox as default web browser.And you guys better not compare linux to M$\Windows.

And I say it again:just wait and watch,opera is gonna win the case.

All hail europe and european courts.

[ray|raven]

Offtopic but,
They should file a case against apple IMO,
See this:
http://www.apple.com/safari/

They claim that safari is faster than all browsers,
Like hell it is,I used it on windows and its way slow compared to the new 9.5 beta.

Regards,
ray

[narangz]

Originally Posted by The_Devil_Himself

^^apple:No Idea maybe cos very less people use it.

Linux:lols,They are mostly free of cost you see and you can use whichever compatible browser you like and let me tell you not all give firefox as default web browser.And you guys better not compare linux to M$\Windows.

And I say it again:just wait and watch,opera is gonna win the case.

All hail europe and european courts.

Oh so IE 7 is not a freeware? Can't you use Opera, Firefox, Safari in Windows & set them as default?

Check out my edited post above, please.

[The_Devil_Himself]

^^man get it right:I said Linux distros are free not the fugging web browsers.But tell me is windows free?


I have paid for sh!t and I am gonna tell everybody that They should also do the same.

[narangz]

Originally Posted by The_Devil_Himself

^^man get it right:I said Linux distros are free not the fugging web browsers.But tell me is windows free?


I have paid for sh!t and I am gonna tell everybody that They should also do the same.

Where the hell am I telling people to use Vista? Man you are attacking indirectly in your posts.

[ray|raven]

@narangz,
Its simply due to MS having the major share,
think of smthing like this,
One guy goes around shouting,nobody cares,
100guys go around shouting, cops call it a riot and throw them in.

Regards,
ray

[QwertyManiac]

gx_saurav has never heard of FTP.

[The_Devil_Himself]

@nagaranz:lol.No offence meant.Glad you get the meaning.

I just wanted to convey that linux is free and windows costs a bomb.

spose that you are a developer that develops,lets say, a media player.It can be free to use or paid.Now since windows is selling their XP\Vista with WMP bundled you you're losing potential users of your product,isn't it?And this is precisely what norton(closed kernel) and real media player said earlier and actually won their cases in europe and now its opera filing this case.

It may sound unjust from M$ point of view but it is not!!Trust me.

Also,consider the second point--IE doesn't follow standard rules in web world.Web developers have to make different copies for the same webpage and that sux!.

I hope I have cleared my point.