Microsoft settles a long-running antitrust case with Europe’s competition commissioner

“TO HECK with Janet Reno”, said Steve Ballmer, now Microsoft’s boss, after America’s attorney-general dared to go after the software firm in 1997 for abusing its Windows monopoly to smother Netscape, a now defunct browser firm. These words marked the beginning of what was to become probably the most spectacular antitrust case in the computer industry so far. The dispute later spread to Europe.

On Wednesday December 16th the case at last came to an end. Neelie Kroes, Europe’s competition commissioner, announced that she had reached a settlement with the software giant. Starting next March, in Europe at least, all versions of Windows will come with a “choice screen” rather than just an already-installed version of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. This will list 12 web browsers, including Microsoft’s and those provided by competitors. Computer users will be able to pick their favourite. …