Hispalinux, an 8,000-member group that represents users and developers of the Linux platform, has filed a complaint against Microsoft to the European Commission about the difficulty of installing a second operating system on a Windows 8-based machine.

Windows 8 contains a security mechanism called UEFI Secure Boot, which helps protect the operating system from root kits, Trojans/viruses that are persistent in memory. However, by doing so, Microsoft has made it very difficult for anyone to install a second operating system, which has angered many users and is now cause for action by Hispalinux.

"This is absolutely anti-competitive," Jose Mario Lancho, attorney for Hispalinux, told Reuters. "It's really bad for the user and for the European software industry."

Hispalinux has chosen the right time to complain to the European Commission, as Microsoft was not too long ago fined for not allowing EU customers to choose which browser to use when first using a Windows-based machine.

Microsoft seems very confident the company is in the clear here, as it believes it does not violate any of the EU's anti-competitive laws.

"We are happy to answer any additional questions but we are confident our approach complies with the law and helps keep customers safe," Microsoft spokesman Robin Koch said in a statement.

The European Commission is well aware of Windows 8's security requirements, he said, however, it does not possess any evidence that Microsoft is in violation of the commission's competitive rules.

"The Commission is monitoring the implementation of the Microsoft Windows 8 security requirements. The Commission is however currently not in possession of evidence suggesting that the Windows 8 security requirements would result in practices in violation of EU competition rules," he said in the letter posted on the website of the European Parliament.

As it stands, it appears Microsoft might just escape this one unscathed.