Opera loses EU court challenge over Microsoft Edge DMA exemption

Opera's General Court defeat

The Luxembourg-based General Court on Wednesday sided with the European Commission, dismissing Opera's legal challenge to the EU antitrust regulator's decision not to designate Microsoft Edge as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act. Judges ruled that the Commission had correctly accepted Microsoft's arguments that Edge did not constitute an "important gateway" for businesses to reach users, even though the browser met the DMA's quantitative criteria.

Opera's arguments and the Commission's position

Opera had argued that the Commission misapplied the criteria when it decided in 2024 to exempt Edge from the DMA rules that set out dos and don'ts for Big Tech. The Commission had concluded that Edge was not an important gateway, prompting Opera to contest that assessment in court under case T-357/24 Opera Norway v Commission.

Court record on DMA decisions

The ruling adds to a string of victories for the EU antitrust watchdog in challenges to its DMA designations, raising the bar for companies seeking to contest such decisions. Opera's loss means the 2024 Commission decision not to treat Edge as a gatekeeper remains in force.

Long-running rivalry between Opera and Microsoft

Opera and Microsoft have a history of antitrust friction. Opera's 2007 complaint about its U.S. rival led to a €561 million EU antitrust fine against Microsoft in 2013 for failing to offer users a choice of web browser. The current case represents a fresh chapter in that long-running dispute, with Opera again challenging Microsoft's browser market position and again falling short.