OPERA FILES ANTITRUST COMPLAINT AGAINST MICROSOFT

Opera, a Norwegian developer of web-browsers, filed a complaint against Microsoft with the European Commission (the “Commission”) claiming 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. The developer asked the Commission to require Microsoft to unbundle Internet Explorer from Windows and/or carry alternative browsers pre-installed on the desktop and require Microsoft to follow fundamental and open Web standards accepted by the Web-authoring communities. Opera thinks that its requested remedies gives consumers greater freedom and flexibility while, at the same time, ensuring that the Web further develops into a platform for innovation.
Camelia C. Mazard
202-589-1837
cmazard@dbmlawgroup.com