On 12 February 2026, CADE, the Brazilian competition authority, issued several formal information requests to major Windows PC manufacturers on Microsoft’s “Jumpstart Program”, which is publicly available (in Portuguese) on CADE’s website), in the context of Brazil’s CADE antitrust investigation into Microsoft, following Opera’s formal complaint (please see our TLDR here). Here is the list of OEMs to whom the RFIs have been addressed: Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, Acer, Positivo, Samsung, Multilaser, Daten, LG. This list includes the major global Windows PC OEMs, whose global sales account for hundreds of millions of Windows PCs every year.
CADE has asked those ten PC manufacturers to provide information and agreements concerning the Microsoft “Jumpstart Program” and the conditions for pre-installation of third-party software including, but not limited to, browsers, as well as the expected financial and/or commercial impact in the event of withdrawal from/termination of the Jumpstart Program. All the letters can be seen in the website of CADE (see here), in Portuguese.
The Jumpstart Program ensures Microsoft’s Edge browser is pre-installed on Windows PCs, blocking third-party browsers. This issue also impacts the EU, as the DMA hasn’t addressed Microsoft’s distribution practices. Microsoft announced that “S Mode” will be discontinued on new devices after September 30.
Many issues continue to be problematic, including dark patterns that affect consumer choice, given the reluctant, belated and partial DMA compliance by Microsoft.
This is an important development: a leading competition enforcer is now actively investigating this practice by Microsoft which poses a significant barrier to fair competition and user choice because it de facto excludes browser suppliers from pre-installation on Windows PCs worldwide. This is being shared as background. Should you be interested in covering this development, we can provide you with an official statement and quotes from key stakeholders and/or access to a BCA spokesperson who can give further context.
The BCA welcomes CADE’s 12 February 2026 action in its antitrust probe into Microsoft’s global practices. CADE has issued information requests to major Windows PC manufacturers, including Dell, HP, and Lenovo, regarding Microsoft’s “Jumpstart Program”, which leads to de facto worldwide exclusive preinstallation of Edge, and restricts the pre-installation of third-party browsers. The investigation follows Opera’s formal complaint and aims to assess the effects of Microsoft’s practices on competition and consumer choice in the PC browser market.
This marks a significant step towards addressing anti-competitive behaviours that restrict consumer choice and harm fair market competition.
The BCA views CADE’s RFIs as a natural and constructive step in the investigative process, encouraging broader stakeholder participation and the open sharing of relevant information and perspectives. In this context, BCA encourages stakeholders to present evidence and relevant data in this important case, which has significant implications for competition both globally and in Brazil, in order to ensure a comprehensive and well-informed review of the matter by CADE.
Gene Burrus, ex-Microsoft attorney and advisor and spokesperson for the Browser Choice Alliance, stated: “These RFI’s reflect concern that Microsoft is using its power and dominance in its Windows operating system to effectively force OEMs to accept a bundle of other Microsoft applications, like browsers, and services on new PCs and denying fair access to that distribution channel for independent developers.”
Read more about it here:
Windows Report: Microsoft Under Fire as Brazil Investigates Edge Pressure on OEMs
MLex: Brazil’s CADE looking into Microsoft’s Jumpstart Program in Edge probe
Finance Sina: 垄断大棒挥向微软！涉嫌逼迫OEM厂商独家捆绑Edge：正遭官方调查