San Francisco -- Microsoft has said regulatory wrangling has prompted it to strip Internet Explorer Web browsers from copies of its Windows 7 operating system to be sold in Europe.

The US software giant said Thursday it still plans to release the next generation of its ubiquitous operating system worldwide on October 22, but customers in Europe will have to install Web browsers of their choice as the company seeks to skirt antitrust concerns.

"We're committed to making Windows 7 available in Europe at the same time that it launches in the rest of the world, but we also must comply with European competition law as we launch the product," Microsoft deputy general counsel Dave Heiner said in a statement.

"Given the pending legal proceeding, we've decided that instead of including Internet Explorer in Windows 7 in Europe, we will offer it separately and on an easy-to-install basis to both computer manufacturers and users."

Microsoft announced the development this week so computer makers can adapt to installing browsers in new machines running on the company's new operating system, according to Heiner.

"We need to address the legal realities in Europe, including the risk of large fines," Heiner said.

"We believe that this new approach, while not our first choice, is the best path forward given the ongoing legal case in Europe."

Microsoft is defending itself in the European Union against accusations of unfairly crushing rivals in the Web browser market.

The European Commission (EC), Europe's top competition watchdog, opened a new front in its epic antitrust battle with Microsoft in January, hitting the company with fresh charges of unfairly squashing competition.

Microsoft is to defend itself at a hearing, which companies are allowed to do under EU antitrust rules.

If Microsoft fails to beat back the charges, the EC could slap the company with huge new fines and order it to change its ways.

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