Opera brings its browsing beef to Brazil with Microsoft to conduct antitrust complaints

Opera is filing an antitrust complaint against Microsoft in Brazil, accusing it of creating an unfair environment for alternative browsers to compete with Edge. The Norwegian-based company claims that Microsoft’s deal is making exclusive pre-installed browsers on Windows machines so Edge’s deal create an unfair environment for alternative browsers to compete. The Opera also believes that Microsoft uses design strategies and dark patterns to further prevent people from downloading and using competitor products. It asked Brazil’s Executive Council on Economic Defense (CADE) to seek remedies against Microsoft.

“Microsoft browses browser competition on Windows at any time. First, browsers like Opera are locked in important pre-install opportunities,” Aaron McParlan, general counsel for opera, said in a statement. “Microsoft then thwarted users’ ability to download and use alternative browsers.”

This is not the first time these two companies have had a conflict. Opera sued Microsoft in the EU, saying that bundling Internet explorers is anti-competitive. , it also believes (although unsuccessful) that Microsoft should provide gatekeeper names for edge browsers under the EU’s Digital Markets Act.