Opera’s New Legal Challenge Against Microsoft in Brazil
Opera Software recently took a significant step against Microsoft by filing a complaint in Brazil, responding to ongoing concerns about the aggressive promotion of Microsoft’s Edge browser at the expense of alternatives. This action comes shortly after Microsoft ceased the practice of injecting prominent banner ads for Edge in Chrome’s download portal, yet Opera remains dissatisfied with what it perceives as manipulative tactics aimed at steering users toward Edge.
Strategic Choice of Jurisdiction
Brazil was chosen as the venue for this legal action primarily due to its importance as one of Opera’s key markets, where the browser garners a noteworthy third-place position in terms of user base. Opera’s strategy is to leverage a favorable ruling in Brazil to create a ripple effect, setting a potential precedent for similar actions in other jurisdictions.
Nature of the Complaint
At the heart of Opera’s allegations is the claim that Microsoft employs “manipulative design tactics”and anti-competitive strategies that compel users to default to Edge. Specific grievances include:
- Restrictions preventing third-party browsers from being bundled with Windows installations.
- Microsoft’s applications, such as Widgets, Teams, and Outlook, ignoring users’ browser settings, thus favoring Edge for opening files like PDFs.
Potential Outcomes and Remedies
Should Brazil’s regulatory body side with Opera, the company aims to achieve several remedies, including:
- The ability to pre-install alternative browsers by default within Windows.
- Potential restrictions on the use of “dark patterns”that coerce consumers into using Edge.
Previous Legal Efforts
This lawsuit is not Opera’s first encounter in the courtroom with Microsoft. Over a year ago, Opera urged the European Union to classify Microsoft as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) due to Windows’ significant dominance in the desktop environment. However, that attempt was not successful. The outcome of Opera’s current complaint in Brazil could significantly impact the competitive landscape of web browsers and user choice.
As the case progresses, it will be intriguing to observe whether Opera manages to secure a victory over the tech giant this time.
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