The European Union (EU) is set to ask major PC vendors for evidence that Microsoft pressured them to oppose the EU’s plan to give consumers choice when they first start Windows.

Questionnaires have been sent to PC makers seeking information about their communications with Microsoft.

“Microsoft hasn’t seen the commission’s questionnaire and doesn’t pressure any PC makers to oppose the ballot-screen remedy”, said Microsoft spokesman Jesse Verstraete in Brussels.

More information can be read on Bloomberg.

Latest news coming from the European Union’s (EU) anti-trust case against the bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows suggests that one possible remedy could be the inclusion of other browsers in an installation of Windows.

The move could potentially see Opera Browser, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome bundled with Windows in Europe with the user being asked which browser they would like to set as their default on first run.

Any ruling against Microsoft would see a solution that “would be based on the fundamental principle of unbiased choice” said a EU spokesperson. Microsoft has said they they will comply with any ruling. A final decision is due in the next few months.

With Windows 7 Release Candidate just out the door, it seems the operating system is already raising complaints from Mozilla and Opera over the continued bundling of Internet Explorer.

“Our initial review suggests this is a blatant use of the Windows operating system to change the market dynamics of browser usage,” said Mozilla Chairperson, Mitchell Baker.

This is despite the fact that Internet Explorer 8 is now an optional component in Windows 7.

Microsoft still has a month to address the anti-competitive complaints bought against it by the European Union.

Microsoft has confirmed that it has received a one-week extension from EU antitrust regulators to respond to charges stemming to anti-competitive behaviour.

The complaint is for Microsoft bundling Internet Explorer with Windows, hence discouraging competition in the browser market.

At this point it should be noted that with early builds of Windows 7, Internet Explorer can be removed from the system.

If Microsoft loose, the company may be forced to offer multiple browsers with new copies of Windows.

Microsoft have till April 28 to respond to the Commission’s statement of objections.

Mozilla has been granted permission by the European Commission to join the suit with Opera against Microsoft for bundeling Internet Explorers with Windows.

Microsoft has been accused with distorting competition in the market for web browsers. If found guilty, Microsoft could be forced to offer other browser upon Windows installation.

Mozilla’s chairperson Mitchell Baker said that Microsoft is harming “competition between web browsers,” and undermining “product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice.”

Opera’s chief executive Jon von Tetzchner said “the only way to give users a genuine choice is to strip out IE from Windows and either replace it with a rival browser or offer users a list of browsers to choose from.”

The case is still only in its early stages.