Microsoft wins EU extension, gains tech foes

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Microsoft has won a week-long extension from European Union anti-trust regulators in its latest competition case, as leading technology firms line up against it.

It’s the second extension the EU has given Microsoft in the case, which sees Microsoft accused of alleged anti-competitive behaviour for bundling its Internet Explorer browser with its Windows operating system.

"Microsoft confirms that the new deadline for the company to respond to the Commission's statement of objections is 28 April," a spokeswoman told Reuters.

The extension comes as the European Committee for Interoperable Systems (ECIS) – which includes IBM, Nokia and Sun Microsystems – has been accepted by the EU as an interested third party in the case against Microsoft.

“This is an important case to ensure that browsers can compete on the merits and the world wide web. Smaller, more innovative browser developers need a level playing field. That is why there is such broad support for the [European] Commission’s preliminary findings of abuse,” said ECIS spokesman Thomas Vinje, in a statement.

Browser-makers Google, Mozilla and Opera have also joined the case against Microsoft.

Click here to read about alternatives to the big name browsers.

And, here to read our battle of the browsers 4-way review.

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