First, I'd like to say that I'm not an european citizen. I'm
venezuelan and I'm living in Colombia at the time. If that's all it
takes to get this email dropped from your inbox, so be it. If you (or
someone from your staff) is still reeading it, I thank you.
During the last few days it has hit the IT mainstream media that
Microsoft, as part of their "Windows 8 Logo" program, will request
computer manufacturers to support UEFI's "secure boot". Manufacturers
that don't support it, won't get the privilege of putting a "WIndows
8" logo stamp on their computers. It has also been published that
manufacturers are willing to implement this _without_ giving the users
the possibility to disable this option.
In order for "secure boot" to be used, it requires using certification
keys to allow any operating system to boot the computer and that
provides Microsoft with a double advantage:
- Users wouldn't be able to use an older version of Windows
- Users won't be able to use a "non certified" operating system, like
say, GNU/Linux.
Given their strong position on computer manufacturers, whatever
Microsoft comes up with, manufacturers will follow. Unfortunately,
that power, as we can see here, is being used to hinder Microsoft's
competition and force the user to use Microsoft's latest OS instead of
any other OS they so choose to use (even older versions of Microsoft
Windows).
Thank you very much.
Update: The mail has been forwarded to Mr Almunia, on the Competition front. Email Address: CAB-ALMUNIA-COURRIER at ec.europa.eu
Update II: I got a response this morning (oct. 27th) from staff:
Dear Mr. Carmona,
Thank you very much for
your messages of 24 and 26 September 2011 expressing concerns regarding
the new Microsoft's Windows 8 security requirements. According to these
requirements, the computer manufacturers ("OEMs") conforming to the
Windows 8 logo program are obliged to use Unified Extensible Firmware
Interface ("UEFI") secure boot. This might allegedly lead to
anti-competitive effects in the market.
As you are probably
aware, Windows 8 is currently under development and therefore not final.
We will, however, monitor the further developments in order
to ensure the full respect of European competition rules. Whether or not
there is a violation of EU competition law, however, depends on a range
of factual, legal and economic considerations.
For more information about the competition-related activities of the European Commission we invite you to consult our website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/
Feedback from interested
citizens, such as yours, is a very valuable source of information for us
which we take seriously, and for which we would like to thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Head of Unit
European Commission
DG Competition
Markets and cases II: Information, Communication and Media
Antitrust: IT, Internet and Consumer electronics
