HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - Google Inc has told state and federal antitrust authorities in the US that Microsoft Corp's Windows Vista operating system software puts rivals at a disadvantage in violation of Microsoft's antitrust settlement, the Wall Street Journal reported.
In a white paper sent to the Justice Department and state attorneys general in April, Google alleged that the Vista system makes it hard for consumers to use rival desktop-search applications provided by Google and others, the paper cited lawyers familiar with the matter as saying.
The white paper followed discussions Google had for more than a year with government officials about the matter, the report said.
'Microsoft's current approach with Vista desktop search violates its agreement with the government and hurts consumers,' a Google spokesman was quoted as saying.
Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, disputed that contention while expressing willingness to address concerns of Google and others. 'We don't believe that this feature is covered by the consent decree or that it raises any antitrust issues,' he said.
Google's allegations are under review by the Justice Department and state attorneys general who were parties to a consent decree that resolved the government's antitrust case against Microsoft in 2002, the report said.
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