Microsoft To Change Desktop Search In Vista Over Google Antitrust Claim

Jun 20, 2007 at 9:15am ET by Barry Schwartz

Microsoft to change Vista after Google complaint from Reuters reports that Microsoft has agreed to make changes to their Vista desktop search application to make it easier for people to change the default search provider.

Microsoft will make the changes in reaction to a Google antitrust complaint lodged with the US Justice Department. Google claimed that the manner in which desktop search was built in to Vista put competitors at an unfair disadvantage. Microsoft said they will change it so that it would make it easier for people to select their own desktop search default. In addition, Microsoft said they would make it easier for third-party developers to optimize their desktop search tools for Vista.

David Drummond, Google’s chief legal officer, said:

These remedies are a step in the right direction, but they should be improved further to give consumers greater access to alternate desktop search providers.

We are pleased that as a result of Google’s request that the consent decree be enforced, the Department of Justice and state Attorneys General have required Microsoft to make changes to Vista.

Microsoft had called Google’s claims “baseless.” Meanwhile, Google has a deal with Dell to be the default desktop search client on those computers. Danny has pointed out the irony in that: said, “Google is all for consumer choice, except where it can buy that option away from the consumers by partnering with vendors.”

Further reports at Techmeme.

Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here.

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Lucky Lester, June 20th, 2007 at 12:38 pm ET:

Sounds like the usual name calling going on between the kettle and the pan again.

RustyS, June 21st, 2007 at 11:06 am ET:

I wish Microsoft hadn’t caved on this one so easily before making a more public stink about the hypocrisy of Google targeting Microsoft with these complaints while ignoring Apple’s own similarly-exclusive desktop search.

Microsoft’s desktop search is actually one of the biggest strengths of Vista and (much like Google’s internet search results) will be tough for any third-party provider to noticeably beat.

I think Danny summarized this perfectly. Google’s new motto – Don’t be evil, be a hypocrite.

Microsoft To Change Desktop Search In Vista Over Google Antitrust Claim

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