Mozilla, the open source organisation behind the Firefox web
browser, has complained thatWindows 7is too closely integrated with Microsoft's
Internet Explorer browser.
Windows 7 RC1, the release candidate version of the next Windows
desktop operating system, is
available to download now. Mozilla has downloaded the software
and, according to the Financial Times, believes the software
giant is using its market position to lock out market competitors,
such as Firefox.
Speaking in the FT today, Mitchell Baker, chairwoman of
Mozilla, said, "Our initial review suggests this is a blatant use
of the Windows operating system to change the market dynamics of
browser usage. What we have seen so far is a clear example of why
and how Microsoft's Windows monopoly damages competition in related
products."
This is not the first time Microsoft has been attacked over a
pre-released version of its operating system. Many anti-virus
companies were unhappy prior to the launch of Windows Vista because
of the anti-virus technology Microsoft had built into the software,
which would potentially kill off their products.
Last year the EU
fined Microsoft £680m because it had failed to comply with a
2004 order to stop its monopolistic practices. Last month, a group
of technology companies including
IBM, Sun, Oracle and Nokia joined the European Commission's
case against Microsoft for anti-competitive practices.
Microsoft has fought an ongoing battle in the EU and US as a
result of integrating Internet Explorer into the Windows operating
system. The
browser
wars in the mid 1990s led to the demise of Microsoft rival
Netscape, which was later taken over by the Mozilla foundation and
became the basis for Firefox.