Internet giants fight antitrust battle

by Hayley Pinkerfield, Revolution UK 26-Jun-07, 11:00

SAN FRANCISCO - Google has appealed directly to a Federal judge to further limit Microsoft's search powers, as the battle between the internet giants intensifies.

The search giant's decision to go over the heads of the Department of Justice, to request an extension of the US government's four-year antitrust review of Microsoft, marks a legal first.

Google is unsatisfied with changes Microsoft is making to Windows Vista's desktop search feature in response to an antitrust complaint. The search firm first raised the complaint last year as Microsoft was preparing to launch its Vista operating system. The matter appeared resolved when Microsoft agreed last week to make some changes to its desktop search. US antitrust regulators stated that they were satisfied with the proposed changes.

Last year, Google complained to the Department of Justice that Windows Vista's built-in desktop search, a tool to quickly find files stored on a computer hard drive, limited consumer choice and violated terms of Microsoft's landmark 2001 antitrust settlement with the government.

Google's court filing drew parallels between desktop search and forms of ‘middleware' covered by a decree that resolved the 2001 antitrust case. Under that agreement, a US court oversees Microsoft's integration of desktop search software with Windows. This is meant to prevent anticompetitive actions.

David Drummond, senior VP and chief legal officer for Google said:"The remedies won by the Department of Justice and state attorneys general from Microsoft are a positive step, but consumers will likely need further measures to ensure meaningful choice. Ultimately, these issues raise the need for continued judicial oversight of Microsoft's practices, to ensure that consumers' interests are best served."

Google's challenge follows Microsoft's appeal to antitrust regulators to block its rival's planned acquisition of DoubleClick.