PIN-SME

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, agreed during last December to abandon its case against Microsoft over its Internet-browser tying practices, after Microsoft legally committed to market rival browsers alongside its own Internet Explorer.

Mrs. Neelie Kroes – then European Commissioner for Competition, now in charge of the Digital Agenda – considered
that Microsoft's commitments both on browsers and interoperability should be seen in very positive light.
By asking Microsoft to deliver a ballot screen of browser choices to Windows users in Europe, the commission is expecting to increase the market share of rival browsers, which include Mozilla's Firefox, Google's Chrome, Apple's Safari and Opera's browser. Microsoft will also allow computer manufacturers to pre-install competing Web browsers, or have the option to exclude Internet Explorer
completely.

PIN-SME, which has been involved as third-party in the case, welcomes the commitment made by Microsoft and is looking forward to its good implementation in practice, which has already started: from the beginning of March, users of Windows PCs who have Internet Explorer as default web browser are being provided with the browser Choice Screen. Microsoft must now report to the commission every six months on the process of changing its practice, and may be asked to make some adjustments.