From: "Joe Barr" 

From:   Live Leer 
To:     Joe Barr 
Subject:        Opera and the Swedish Chef Go After Microsoft
Date:   Fri, 14 Feb 2003 14:03:06 +0100
Opera releases "Bork" edition:
The Swedish Chef Goes After Microsoft

Oslo, Norway - Feb. 14, 2003 - Two weeks ago it was revealed that
Microsoft's MSN portal targeted Opera users, by purposely provided them
with a broken page. As a reply to MSN's treatment of its users, Opera
Software today released a very special Bork edition of its Opera 7 for
Windows browser.  The Bork edition behaves differently on one Web site:
MSN. Users accessing the MSN site (http://www.msn.com/) will see the page
transformed into the language of the famous Swedish Chef from the Muppet
Show: Bork, Bork, Bork!

In October 2001, Opera users were blocked from the MSN site. The event
caused an uproar among Web users and MSN was forced to change their policy.
However, MSN continues a policy of singling out its Opera competitor by
specifically instructing Opera to hide content from users.

"Hergee berger snooger bork," says Mary Lambert, product line
manager desktop, Opera Software. "This is a joke. However, we are
trying to make an important point. The MSN site is sending Opera users what
appear to be intentionally distorted pages. The Bork edition illustrates
how browsers could also distort content, as the Bork edition does. The real
point here is that the success of the Web depends on software and Web site
developers behaving well and rising above corporate rivalry."

MSN now allows access to users of Opera 7, but is still targeting and
sending users of earlier versions a broken page. This treatment is
completely unnecessary, as the page would look the same in Opera as in
Microsoft's own Internet Explorer if it had been fed the same information.

"We are working hard to make sure the Opera browser works well on all
Web pages, even those that do not follow the Web's standards to the
letter," says H†kon Wium Lie, CTO, Opera Software. "But it
becomes impossible when we are targeted and fed distorted pages that don't
work in any browser. It's like putting a moose in the blender -- a recipe
for disaster! Microsoft should clean up their act on MSN and their other
Web sites."

For more technical documentation, see
http://my.opera.com/dev/discussion/openweb/20030206/

Opera 7.01 for Windows in Bork can be downloaded from www.opera.com

About Opera Software
Opera Software ASA is an industry leader in the development of Web browser
technology, partnering with companies such as IBM, AMD, Nokia, Macromedia,
Symbian, Canal+ Technologies, Ericsson, Sharp, Metrowerks, and MontaVista
Software. The Opera browserhas received international recognition from
users, industry experts and media for being faster, smaller and more
standards-compliant than other browsers. Opera's browser technology is
cross-platform and modular, targeting the desktop, smartphone, PDA, iTV and
vertical markets. Opera Software ASA is a privately held company
headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with development centers in Link”ping and
Gothenburg, Sweden, and a representative in Austin, TX. Learn more about
Opera at www.opera.com

Contact:
Pal A. Hvistendahl
Marcom Director
Opera Software ASA
press{at}opera.com
+47 99 72 4331
US Toll Free: 1-888-624-4846 (Press only, please)
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