Opera Loses EU Exemption Challenge Against Microsoft's Edge Browser

Norwegian browser maker Opera has lost its court challenge against EU antitrust regulators' decision to exempt Microsoft's Edge browser from rules reining in the power of Big Tech.

The European Commission decided in 2024 that Edge was not an important gateway for businesses to reach users, despite meeting the quantitative criteria set out under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Opera argued that the Commission had misapplied the criteria, but the Luxembourg-based General Court sided with the EU antitrust watchdog.

The court upheld the Commission's decision not to designate Microsoft as a gatekeeper in relation to Edge, stating that the EU enforcer did not err by accepting Microsoft's arguments that Edge did not constitute an important gateway.