Google vs. Microsoft over desktop search function

By Xinhua

Beijing : Google Inc. said Monday it wants a federal court to extend its supervision of Microsoft's 2002 antitrust settlement with federal and state trustbusters in order to ensure that it follows through on changes to the desktop search function included in the latest version of Windows.


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    "Microsoft's hardwiring of its own desktop search product into Windows Vista violates the final judgment" in the U.S. government's antitrust case against the software maker, Google said.

    Over the last year, Google has complained to state and federal regulators that Microsoft's "Instant Search" program, which helps Windows Vista users search their hard drives, slows down third-party desktop search programs. Google also has said Microsoft makes it hard for PC users to choose alternatives to the built-in search, including Google's own free Google Desktop program.

    In a report published last week, the Justice Department and Microsoft detailed a compromise response to Google's complaints. Windows Vista users will be able to set a non-Microsoft program as the default desktop search engine.

    Microsoft also will add a link to that alternate program in the Windows Start menu, but will not change the way Vista "Instant Search" works. The software maker said the changes would be available by the end of the year.

    "Microsoft went the extra mile to resolve these issues in a spirit of compromise," Microsoft said in a statement. "The government has clearly stated that it is satisfied with the changes we're making. Google has provided no new information that should suggest otherwise in their filing."

    "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," David Drummond, Google's chief legal officer, said in an e-mailed statement.

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