Mozilla joins action against Microsoft

The European Commission initiated new abuse proceedings against Microsoft last month for bundling Internet Explorer with its Windows operating system, and now the Mozilla Foundation, maker of Firefox, has become involved. As an interested third party, it will be able to look at the confidential details of the complaints against Microsoft made by the Commission in January. It will also be able to present its own arguments against the bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows and attend any personal hearing requested by Microsoft.

The plaintiff in the action is the Norwegian browser maker Opera, which argues that a fixed combination of Windows and Internet Explorer not only hampers competition between the different web browsers, but also reduces the selection available to customers. Microsoft has been given until mid-March to respond to these accusations. Mozilla's official participation in the action against Microsoft comes a few days after Mitchell Baker, chairperson of the Mozilla Foundation, offered in her blog to assist the European Commission with Mozilla's expertise in the matter.

(djwm)