“Microsoft Corp. was ordered to separate its instant messaging service from its Windows software and allow rival products on its system in South Korea after losing an antitrust case on Wednesday,” Kim Yeon-hee and Lee Shin-hyung report for Reuters. “The U.S. software firm, which was also fined about US$32 million, said it would appeal the decision by South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) but did not plan to make good on a threat to withdraw its Windows operating system from the country… ‘Windows’ Media Server, Media Player and Internet Messenger services were blocking competition and leading to a monopoly in the market, as well as raising the entry barriers to PC server and operating system makers, hurting the interest of consumers,’ said FTC Chairman Kang Chul-kyu at a news briefing. Analysts said the ruling would have limited ramifications beyond South Korea.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Ooh, $32 million. That’ll teach ’em! How will Gates ever be able to scrape together that princely sum?
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Related MacDailyNews articles:
Microsoft threatens to boost South Korean productivity by withdrawing Windows – October 29, 2005
In the whitehouse you are required to use windows XP (probably SP2 but last time I checked was before SP2 existed) I forget the url but there is a website that will give you the percentage of browsers/OS’s/CPU’s using the internet from any institution. From the whitehouse it’s 100% IE 6 from 100% windows. It is interesting to see who allows their employees to use what.
If anyone has the url could you post it. I think some people would like to check it out, me included.
MS – White House connection:
“Prior to her current public service position, Ralston was the Assistant Director of Governmental Affairs at Greenberg Traurig and has also worked for the lobbying firm of Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, LLP.”
Ralston is/was: “The former Special Assistant to President Bush and deputy to presidential adviser Karl Rove [and] has reportedly moved to the Department of Commerce.”
http://www.philippinenews.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=049710c1d2aca35dd7f60678444ffb44
The Gates there is Bill’s father for those who don’t already know. Bill needs to have friends in high places, and that sure is high.