How is this for hypocrisy: Mozilla says that the prohibition on Firefox to Apple iPhone and iPads is no problem, but limiting the browser from using certain features on some Microsoft Windows 8 tablets may be illegal.
Apple bans Firefox completely by iOS, while in the upcoming Windows 8, Firefox does not have access to certain features of Windows tablets, those that run on ARM chips. Firefox will be allowed full access to the PC version of Windows 8 and Windows 8 tablets running Intel chips.
Harvey Anderson, top lawyer, Computerworld Mozilla has admitted that there are some similarities between the way Apple and Microsoft treat Firefox, but:
"The similarities with iOS do not justify a result on Windows that deprives users of choice, reduces competition and hurts innovation."
When pressed to explain the contradiction of apparenty in Mozilla's attitude towards Apple and Microsoft, said:
"The difference here is that Microsoft is using its power of Windows OS monopoly to exclude market competition in the browser market."
There is so much wrong with that quote, it's hard to know where to start. So let's start with the basics: in Tablet market, if there is no monopoly, power is in the hands of Apple, not Microsoft. The latest survey from IDC shows that Apple dominates the market for Tablet, with 68% of the market. Windows tablets barely selling at all. So what power of monopoly is Anderson referring to?
He clearly refers to the Windows market share ' on your PC. But there are no restrictions on the use of Firefox on Windows computers. And when Windows 8 ships, there will be no restrictions on the use of Firefox on PC or on tablets running Intel chips. The only restrictions will be on tablets running Windows to ARM chips, using the operating system called Windows RT.
Even then, Firefox will be allowed to run on Windows RT. It will be a bit paralyzed, though, because it will only run as an application of a meter, is not a desktop application and is limited by the use of certain features of the operating system.
Contrast that with the way Apple is Firefox on iOS: it is banned outright. Apple does not allow true Firefox and other browsers in App Store, and therefore cannot be installed on iPads and iPhones. At least Microsoft allows some version of browsers on Windows RT, although it may not be a fully featured one.
Also, keep in mind that the full version of Firefox will be allowed to execute on Windows 8 tablet based on Intel. It is Windows only RT where there will be a problem.
Anderson is hinting that Mozilla can pursue antitrust action against Microsoft in United States and Europe because of restrictions Windows RT. He writes on the Mozilla blog Microsoft Action:
"... runs afoul of browser choice and seems to represent the very behavior [Justice Department]-Microsoft settlement tried to prohibit."
Since only the smallest slice of the Tablet market has Microsoft and Apple dominates, there is no anti-trust implications here. If there were, you should apply to Apple, browser competitors banning from the dominant Tablet operating system, iOS.
Mozilla should be criticizing Apple more than Microsoft criticises it for standing in the way of browser choice. The company is not doing his argument favors embracing hypocrisy.
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