Microsoft to Alter Vista After Complaints

Jun 20, 03:52 PM

Current Headlines: U.S. software giant Microsoft agreed to alter its Vista operating system to comply with a 5-year-old antitrust decree, court documents showed.

Microsoft's decision came after Google filed a complaint alleging that it and other competitors were placed at a disadvantage by Microsoft's design of a feature that conducts computer desktop searches, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Google raised its concerns with officials tracking Microsoft's compliance with the 2002 consent decree that ended the government's antitrust case against the software giant. In its complaint, Google said it was difficult to turn off Microsoft's desktop search and Google's desktop search ran slowly when used instead.

Microsoft executives in Redmond, Wash., denied the accusations but said the company would make several changes in its desktop search, which allows users to scan information on computer hard drives.

We're pleased we were able to reach an agreement with all the states and the Justice Department that addresses their concerns so that everyone can move forward, Bradford L. Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, said in a statement.