BBC News - Microsoft takes Google complaint to EU

From the BBC:

"The post goes on to list five different ways in which Google, according to Microsoft, has sought to control the search market.

Those are:

• Using technical measures to stop Microsoft's search engine Bing from indexing content on Google-owned YouTube.
• Blocking Microsoft Smartphones from operating properly with YouTube.
• Controlling access to online copies of out-of-copyright books.
• Limiting the ability of businesses to reclaim "their own information" generated through Google advertising campaigns for use elsewhere.
• Compelling leading websites to only use Google search boxes on their pages.

BBC News - Microsoft takes Google complaint to EU

The idea of Microsoft filing over anti-trust against Google is a sad milestone in the computer giants inability to extend its brand in to the Web. Considering also how ineffective companies were in the 1990s going after Microsoft using this same tactic, it is maybe a bit surprising that Microsoft would try it themselves. But then again if anyone knows about anti-trust litigation it is Microsoft.

I generally view the Microsoft vs Google debate in this way. Both firms are, in their industries monopolies and monopolies are generally bad for consumers. But all monopolies are not created equal. I would rather have a single firm making all the radios than a single firm owning all the radio stations. Monopolies in the content area entail political power that is troubling.

Still it is highly ironic to see Microsoft doing this. And frankly the case looks rather weak at first glance.