Microsoft changes its Licensing Terms
Microsoft now says that it will allow PC makers to remove Internet Explorer icons and entries and also provide the ability to remove user access to IE in Windows XP. This will also be extended to Windows 98, Windows ME and Windows 2000. This step is most likely to keep Windows XP on track and avoid, as far as possible, legal action against it. [Earlier Microsoft had also announced that it was dropping the "Smart Tags" feature from Windows XP].
Microsoft has already won the browser war. Netscape is almost dead. Allowing PC manufacturers (and users) the ability to remove access to IE isn't going to make any difference now -- everyone will still need and want IE. Remember when Microsoft used to say that IE was so tightly integrated that it could not be removed ? Well, both CNet and ComputerWorld confirm that it still can't be removed. Microsoft acknowledges that it may still be launched automatically (e.g. when using the Windows Update function and the running browser does not support it). Also, apparently, Windows Media Player is now a "tightly integrated" product that becomes mandatory, de facto.