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May 15, 2006

DOJ: IE 7 No Threat to Google

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In a stunning development, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said late Friday that Microsoft's decision to use an integrated search box in Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 7 that defaults to MSN Search does not pose a competitive threat. Internet search giant Google had previously complained to both the DOJ and antitrust officials at the European Union (EU) that Microsoft's decision to add the feature was an antitrust violation.

In a court filing, the DOJ noted that Microsoft had first briefed it about IE 7's search box months ago. The feature is easily modified to use any Internet search engine, including that of Google, the DOJ said, "using a relatively straightforward method for the user to select a different search engine from the initial default."

Furthermore, the DOJ wrote, Microsoft's actions with IE 7 are a far cry from the anticompetitive behavior that got the software giant into legal hot water almost a decade ago. The reason? IE 7 respects changes that the user made prior to installing this version of the browser. If the browser was previously using a search service from Google or Yahoo by default, IE 7 will not change that choice to MSN Search when the product is installed. IE 7 "only uses MSN Search if no default has been set." The DOJ has "concluded [its] work on this matter," the filing reads.

End of Article



Reader Comments
How is this development "stunning"? Did you actually expect the DOJ to side with Google on this? Google's claim was absurd. If IE6's search pane (which defaults to MSN Search) wasn't illegal, then this search box surely couldn't be either.

PatriotB6007 May 15, 2006 (Article Rating: )


Based on Paul Thurrott's previous writings about Google's protest of the IE7 search box's default setting, I'm perplexed by his use of the word "stunning."

A while back I thought Mr. Thurrott's assessment was strange that Apple's release of Boot Camp was "widely anticipated" (or some similar wording).

But hey, he's the writer and I'm the reader. I enjoy Paul Thurrott's articles 99.9% of the time and agree with them 99.8% of the time. I don't even like my own writings or agree with myself that often...

mwrisner May 15, 2006 (Article Rating: )


excellent. keep the goverment out of business.

guruguru May 15, 2006 (Article Rating: )


Keep the government out of business? Absurd. It is precisely in situations such as this, where there is an overwhelming monopoly in a market, that government intervention is required. Even die-hard neo-conservative Friedmanites would accept that regulation is needed to prevent monopolies distorting the market.

That being said, the government rightly decided that this would be an inappropriate situation in which to intervene.

tom275 May 15, 2006 (Article Rating: )


let the free markets rule. it boils down to the consumer. the way it should be. the people should decide. not some court and certainly not google.

guruguru May 16, 2006 (Article Rating: )


What I think Paul meant by "stunning" was that Microsoft is constantly being sued nowadays, and that this contrasts with many, if not most, of the other lawsuits' outcomes.

andy_tek May 22, 2006 (Article Rating: )


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