Microsoft wants a clear green light from the European Commission before releasing Vista, but the EC is saying it isn’t going to do that; rather, it’s up to Microsoft to behave ongoing, according to EC spokesman Jonathan Todd:

The main rule for Microsoft is to ensure that the market allows competition between security providers on the merits of their products, Todd said. “If business and home users are deprived of choice, a security ‘monoculture’ based on Microsoft products may lead to less innovation and could harm all computer users. Security risks could increase, and not decrease,” he said.

Vista’s European battleground As the slippery due date draws near for the Windows release, Microsoft and the EU are now at odds over security features. By Joris Evers, Staff Writer, CNET News.com, Published: September 18, 2006, 4:00 AM PDT

I wonder how much effect Dan Geer’s report of 3 years ago had on the EC’s awareness of this issue?

-jsq