Summary: Microsoft's Courtois does his usual tours across Europe while the browser case he's involved in never reaches a verdict, and thus benefits Microsoft

LAST week we wrote about Microsoft's Courtois, if only just to show how he was meddling with the antitrust case in Europe, including the Web browsers conundrum which is about punishing Microsoft for illegal conduct, not just offering an opportunity to more companies. The illusion that the EU is trying to "take away" from Microsoft is nothing more than a Microsoft talking point, as the Commission does something that's akin to fining a misbehaved person for robbery s/he committed.

A reader has sent us the following, adding that "ScienceBusiness is heavily sponsored by Microsoft."

Watch who takes the lead.

Regarding the browsers case in Europe, the New York Times makes it clear that opposition remains to the EU Commission's deal [1, 2].

Three rivals of Microsoft are seeking last-minute changes to its proposed settlement with European regulators that would give buyers of computers loaded with Windows the ability to choose a default browser other than the company’s Internet Explorer. Skip to next paragraph

The changes — requested by Google, the designer of the Chrome browser, Mozilla, the creator of Firefox, and Opera — aim to ensure that Microsoft does not unfairly influence the decision, said Hakon Wium Lie, the chief technology officer of Opera, based in Oslo.

[...]

Opera also wants Microsoft to bar Windows from displaying its standard warnings when computer users download non-Microsoft software, in this case that of a rival browser, to their computer. Windows automatically displays warnings when users attempt to download non-Microsoft programs and applications. Another request is that the commission survey actual consumer use of the ballot screen — to ensure competition is being fostered — more frequently than after two years, which is in the current proposal.

For more information see:

• Mozilla Unofficially Joins ECIS and Opera in Opposition to Microsoft's Deal in Europe; Microsoft Poisoned Firefox
• ECIS on the Patent Licensing Paradox, Microsoft Confesses Licensing Tricks
• Parties Behind Complaints Against Microsoft in EU Not Pleased

Those poor deals -- partly having Courtois responsible for them -- are just buying Microsoft more time. It's like a procrastination tactic Microsoft is so notorious for, especially in the context of antitrust action. By the time some form of compliance is finally reached, the agreements are out of touch and technical documentation -- if any -- is already well out of date, almost deprecated. ⬆