Europe's General Court on Wednesday dismissed a challenge from Norwegian browser maker Opera. Opera contested the European Commission's decision to exempt Microsoft's Edge browser from new Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules.
The ruling upholds a 2024 decision. Regulators in 2024 found Edge did not function as a critical gateway for businesses. This finding occurred despite Edge meeting quantitative thresholds for "gatekeeper" status.
Opera had argued the Commission failed to properly assess Edge's entrenched position on the Windows operating system. Opera claimed this position creates an unfair competitive landscape.
The court upheld the Commission's original assessment. Consequently, Microsoft will not implement stricter DMA compliance measures for Edge. These measures are mandated for designated gatekeeper services.