Deja Vu - Microsoft under monopoly attack again >> Scott Klarr

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Deja Vu - Microsoft under monopoly attack again

Posted By Scott Klarr on Dec 14, 2007 at 3:53 pm

Let me first say, that I am not fond of Microsoft's Internet Explorer at all, however I find this whole situation extremely unfair for Microsoft. What?! Yeah, I said Microsoft.

Opera Seeks Tougher Remedy in Microsoft Case
Opera argues that because each version of Windows comes with only IE preinstalled, Microsoft has an unfair advantage against rivals like Opera and Firefox. That has helped it maintain a consistent market share on Windows PCs of around 80 percent, Opera contends.

"In our minds, the best solution would be one version of Windows with a must-carry type of provision," said Jason Hoida, Opera's deputy general counsel.

Now, imagine if you owned a brand new company that made an operating system which was closed source and you sold it for profits. Because your a very small startup company, nobody really pays you any mind. Lets say you wanted to include another company's software prebundled such as firefox or Opera. Chances are, unless you PAY to be able to include that software with your profiting software; those companies would probably threaten you with legal action to either remove their software, or give them some sort of commissions. That is fair. But then lets say your company is huge, the largest in its market, and now suddenly you have these small companies, who are you competition, claiming they have a RIGHT to have their software included FOR FREE in your software. That is just rediculous!

If Microsoft is forced to include these other browsers, where will the line be drawn? Could I start up a search engine company and then take google to court requiring that my search box is placed on their homepage? Its just downright sad that a company would try to leach off another company's success and market footing. what if my upcoming CRM software that is in development becomes the the largest used in the CRM market, am I to worry about other companies taking me to court to get their modules packaged with my software? Or another crazy comparison; If you started up a company making automotive engine components, why not take GM, Ford, and Dodge to court and demand that they use your parts, because you have a hard time selling parts on your own. Madness!

Id like to hear your opinions! Feel free to post a comment below, but if you make a claim, please back it up with some sense. Don't just post middle-school level name callings about the company you love to hate.

Comments (2)

Adam - Jun 12, 2008

The only reason I use Opera is when I want to go to a website that I KNOW will get me some sort of drive-by virus. Opera's probably been safer for this because people don't pay attention to exploiting its loopholes, but in a way this means to me that they aren't entirely standards compliant either. Even when correct in IE and Firefox, pages don't always show up correctly in Opera, and this is a problem.

On a second note, is the BRAND NEW VISTA user going to want to:

1. Hit Windows R
2. Type cmd, hit enter
3. Type "ftp"
4. Type "open ftp.opera.com"
5. Type "anonymous"
6. Type a bogus email address
7. Type "CD pub/opera/win/950b2/en"
8. Type "LCD C:\Users\(USER)\Desktop"
9. Type "GET Opera_9.50b2_Eng_Setup.exe"

Does this clown think that the average user knows how to do this? If he has his way, we'll all be stuck using Macs because it "just works" and "we don't have to be computer programmers to download a browser... MY Mac comes with SAFARI!"

Imagine the commercials.

Menekali - Dec 16, 2007

I knew about the anti-trust laws, and the integration issues, however the views on the standards issue was good. Too bad I don't use Opera q_p

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