Microsoft Will Recomply With EU Antitrust Mandate on Browser Ballot
Microsoft has taken to heart the European Union’s recent threats about its failure to comply with all of the terms of its 2009 antitrust settlement.
According to EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, the software giant is scrambling to reimplement in Windows the Browser Choice Screen that it accidentally removed with a February 2011 update to Windows 7. That screen was a requirement under Microsoft’s 2009 antitrust settlement with the European Commission, and it was intended to present Windows users with a ballot screen offering them an opportunity to swap out Internet Explorer for one of 11 other browsers from rivals like Mozilla, Apple, Opera and Google.
In the face of Almunia’s public threat of severe penalties for the misstep, Microsoft has reportedly claimed it is working hard to address the EU’s antitrust concerns. Said Almunia, “In my personal talks with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, he has given me assurances that they will comply immediately regardless of the conclusion of the antitrust probe.”