Opera is filing a complaint over Microsoft’s tricks that push you to use Edge

Microsoft has utilized a variety of tricks to person radical to support utilizing the defaults of Bing and Microsoft Edge successful Windows implicit the years, including modifying Chrome download sites and using malware-like popups. Now, Opera is fed up with what it calls Microsoft’s “manipulative plan tactics” and is filing a contention ailment successful Brazil today, alleging that Microsoft is utilizing anti-competitive practices to steer radical toward utilizing Edge.

“Microsoft thwarts browser contention connected Windows astatine each turn,” says Aaron McParlan, wide counsel astatine Opera. “First, browsers similar Opera are locked retired of important preinstallation opportunities. And past Microsoft frustrates users’ quality to download and usage alternate browsers.“

Opera’s ailment alleges that Microsoft ignores a user’s default browser prime successful a assortment of ways, from opening PDF files oregon links successful Outlook and Teams, to opening links done Windows features similar Search oregon Widgets. Opera besides notes that Microsoft uses “obtrusive banners and messages discouraging users from
downloading alternate browsers astatine the precise infinitesimal they are searching for those browsers connected Edge.“

Opera has filed its ailment successful Brazil due to the fact that it’s 1 of the company’s main markets. “Opera is already a large occurrence successful Brazil: it is the 3rd astir fashionable browser successful Brazil and has millions of loyal users successful Brazil who actively take it, contempt Microsoft’s tactics,” says McParlan, successful a connection to The Verge. “The complaint, which concerns practices implemented globally by Microsoft, presents an accidental for Brazil to beryllium a person connected this planetary issue.”

If Opera is palmy with its complaint, it wants remedies from Microsoft similar allowing PC manufacturers to preload alternate default browsers, a halt to blocking consumers from downloading different browsers, and an extremity to “dark patterns that propulsion users towards Edge.” Opera besides reveals that Microsoft requires OEMs to “deliver S mode devices arsenic a information for rebates connected a Windows OS license,” which is different signifier it wants to spot outlawed.

While the ailment volition beryllium handled by Brazil’s contention authority, it’s portion of a broader effort from Opera to situation Microsoft’s Edge practices astir the world. Opera unsuccessfully challenged the EU’s determination not to designate Microsoft Edge arsenic a gatekeeper nether its Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules past year. Microsoft escaped this designation, but it has inactive had to marque changes to Windows successful EU markets successful effect to the DMA. These changes person led to it stop bugging Windows users astir Edge.

“We judge that Microsoft’s conduct, including the changes that it has announced successful Europe, are insufficient to attain effectual compliance with the DMA,” says McParlan. “In this context, and arsenic portion of its planetary efforts to guarantee escaped and effectual user choice, Opera has appealed earlier the EU Courts the European Commission’s determination not to designate Edge arsenic a ‘gatekeeper’ work nether the DMA.”

Not lone has Microsoft utilized Windows to impulse radical into switching to Edge successful the past, but the institution besides created a spoofed Google UI to effort and person Bing users they were utilizing Google earlier this year. The hunt results looked a batch similar Google, implicit with a customized hunt bar, Google Doodle-like image, and immoderate tiny substance nether the hunt bar, conscionable similar Google search. Microsoft quickly killed the plug connected its spoofed Google UI erstwhile radical started noticing it.

Opera besides has a past of complaints against Microsoft’s browser behaviour successful Windows. It primitively filed an antitrust ailment with the EU in 2007, which eventually led to the browser ballot surface being created — allowing Windows users to prime 1 of the 12 astir fashionable browsers alternatively than defaulting to Internet Explorer. Microsoft had to support the browser prime surface successful Windows for 5 years, but was fined $730 cardinal successful 2013 for failing to see the ballot successful Windows 7 Service Pack 1.