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Microsoft to Attend Its EC Hearing

It’s reportedly going to paint Google, one of the complaints, as the boogeyman to spook a European Commission
By Maureen O'Gara
Article Rating:
May 15, 2009 01:15 PM EDT
Reads:
 1,783

Despite last week's report that Microsoft wouldn't even show up, it's now said that it's going to its antitrust hearing in Brussels next month.

It's reportedly going to paint Google, which is one of the complaints, as the boogeyman to spook a European Commission already worried about Google's power to try to deflect it from ordering Microsoft to package alternate browsers - like Chrome and Firefox - in the Windows operating system as a remedy for having tied its own Internet Explorer browser to Windows.

According to both the New York Times and the Financial Times - who must be talking to the same leak - Microsoft will argue that throwing such empowerment to Google will only unleash an even bigger, scarier, EC-created search ad behemoth than the one that's already gobbled up most of the market.

Mozilla, one of the most profitable open source ventures around, gets most of its money from driving web traffic to Google's search engine. Chrome, Google's own browser, is meant to do the same thing. Ditto Opera, which brought the original complaint to the EC.

Microsoft will of course also argue that nothing prevents a Windows user from using a browser other than IE right now.

The FT said Saturday that Microsoft posited the argument in a secret last-minute submission to the EC. The FT also claims to have seen Microsoft's confidential April 28 response to the EC charges and says it challenges the legality of the regulator's proposed remedy, claiming it infringes on its brand and its IP rights.

Published May 15, 2009 – Reads 1,783
Copyright © 2009 SYS-CON Media, Inc. — All Rights Reserved.
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Maureen O'Gara the most read technology reporter for the past 20 years, is the Cloud Computing and Virtualization News Desk editor of SYS-CON Media. She is the publisher of famous "Billygrams" and the editor-in-chief of "Client/Server News" for more than a decade. One of the most respected technology reporters in the business, Maureen can be reached by email at maureen(at)sys-con.com or paperboy(at)g2news.com, and by phone at 516 759-7025.

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