Google raised concerns to the European Commission over Microsoft's new Internet browser, which directs Web surfers to Microsoft's search site.

Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 browser features a search box, similar to that already provided by other browsers such as the Firefox and Opera. IE's seach tool points users to the Microsoft owned MSN Search service as the default search engine. According to Google, this gives the company an unfair competitive advantage.

On the other hand, instead of setting a default search engine, users are able to set the search engine of their choice when they first launch the application.

Microsoft has been found guilty of violating anti-trust regulations in both the EU and in the US, using its monopoly on desktop operating systems to give Internet Explorer an edge over the competing Netscape browser. The case in Europe is still ongoing, but so far there hasn't been any mention of forcing a change in the default browser settings.