Google accuses MS of unfair edge in Vista
Microsoft is defending itself against charges by Google that it rigged its new Vista operating system to give its desktop search software an unfair edge over that of its rivals.
By Agencies |
SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft is defending itself against charges by Google that it rigged its new Vista operating system to give its desktop search software an unfair edge over that of its rivals.
In a freshly-revealed complaint lodged late last year with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and state attorneys general Google accuses Microsoft's Vista of violating a 2002 antitrust decree.
Microsoft is bound by the decree barring it from stifling competing software with its operating system, which is used on approximately 90 percent of the world's computers. "We believe there are no compliance issues with desktop Vista but we are willing to review what ways we can resolve this matter," Microsoft spokesman Jack Evans told media on Tuesday.
"During the past two years we have worked closely with federal and state officials to review features on Vista, including desktop search." Google makes a free desktop search program that competes with the one Microsoft built into Vista. Desktop search software enables users to scour their computers for stored information or files using keywords such as names.
Mountain View, California-based Google reportedly expressed concerns about Vista's Internet Explorer web browser during the review by federal and state officials but did not take issue with desktop search. "We are curious about the timing of the complaint - after Vista was released," Evans said.
Vista tailored for businesses debuted in November and versions for home computers went on sale in January. Google's complaint was reportedly lodged confidentially in late November or early December. Google's shot at the Redmond, Washington-based software giant became public after it expanded on its complaint in a 49-page filing to the DOJ in April.
Google's complaint is expected to be the subject of a June 26 status conference hearing before US District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in her Washington, DC courtroom.
In a freshly-revealed complaint lodged late last year with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and state attorneys general Google accuses Microsoft's Vista of violating a 2002 antitrust decree.
Microsoft is bound by the decree barring it from stifling competing software with its operating system, which is used on approximately 90 percent of the world's computers. "We believe there are no compliance issues with desktop Vista but we are willing to review what ways we can resolve this matter," Microsoft spokesman Jack Evans told media on Tuesday.
"During the past two years we have worked closely with federal and state officials to review features on Vista, including desktop search." Google makes a free desktop search program that competes with the one Microsoft built into Vista. Desktop search software enables users to scour their computers for stored information or files using keywords such as names.
Mountain View, California-based Google reportedly expressed concerns about Vista's Internet Explorer web browser during the review by federal and state officials but did not take issue with desktop search. "We are curious about the timing of the complaint - after Vista was released," Evans said.
Vista tailored for businesses debuted in November and versions for home computers went on sale in January. Google's complaint was reportedly lodged confidentially in late November or early December. Google's shot at the Redmond, Washington-based software giant became public after it expanded on its complaint in a 49-page filing to the DOJ in April.
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Google's complaint is expected to be the subject of a June 26 status conference hearing before US District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in her Washington, DC courtroom.
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