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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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 Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:54 pm Post subject: No Windows for RoK |
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SEOUL (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) has threatened to withdraw its Windows software from
South Korea if the country's antitrust agency orders it to unbundle its Instant Messenger and Media Player from the operating system.
South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has been investigating allegations that the world's top software maker breached antitrust laws by incorporating the services into Windows.
"If the KFTC enters an order requiring Microsoft to remove code or redesign Windows uniquely for the Korean market, it might be necessary to withdraw Windows from the Korean market or delay offering new versions in Korea," Microsoft said in a U.S. regulatory filing on Thursday.
The KFTC began its probe in 2001 when South Korean Internet portal Daum Communications Corp. (035720.KQ) alleged Microsoft's bundling of the operating system with other services broke antitrust rules. It widened the probe following a similar complaint from RealNetworks (Nasdaq:RNWK - news) in 2004.
A ruling could come as soon as Wednesday, a KFTC spokesman said.
"No matter what Microsoft does, we will proceed with our deliberation and discuss it again at a plenary session on Wednesday," Lee Tae-hwi said by telephone. "There is no change in our stance to fight unfair business practices."
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Microsoft fears an unfavorable ruling in SK might convince other Asian nations to require Microsoft to unbundle. Microsoft argues it would be a huge pain if it had to release a unique version for every country where it sells its operating system. Sure but... doesn't Microsoft already make a special version for Korea, China, Thailand, Malaysia, et al? That is to say it has to release a special Hangul version for Korea. A Japanese language version. Every major Asian nation has a Microsoft HQ that does localization work. That's way more complicated than tweeking an install script. The argument doesn't hold much water. |
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Pangit
Joined: 02 Sep 2004
Location: Puet mo.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Idjit noobs. Just Add/Remove Windows components. Not that it's necessary. GOM player and BuddyBuddy suck, anyway. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Pangit wrote: |
| Idjit noobs. Just Add/Remove Windows components. Not that it's necessary. GOM player and BuddyBuddy suck, anyway. |
True but the courts tend to treat consumers like lazy sheep. They'll simply use what's in front of them. |
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