Windows exit from S Korea?
p2p news / p2pnet: Possible good news for South Koreans.
Bill and the Boyz may pull Windows if a landmark anti-trust ruling, with corporate music site RealNetworks in the background, goes against it, says Asia Times Online.
And if that happened, the way would, of course, be open for open source offerings.
“Microsoft and South Korea’s antitrust regulator, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), have been in a dispute since 2001, when local Internet portal Daum Communications Corp accused the US company of bundling its instant messenger software into versions of its dominant Windows operating system,” says the story. “The investigation was widened after a US software company, RealNetworks Inc, filed a complaint with the Korean commission last November condemning Microsoft for tying its audio and video software into Windows, allowing the company to have an unfair advantage over rival music and video software companies.”
Microsoft has already said it’ll pay $761 million to RealNetworks to settle their anti-trust case and, “create a new partnership to innovate and promote consumer choices in digital music and games”.
Under music and games agreements, Microsoft will pay Real $301 million in cash and provide services over 18 months in support of Real’s product development, distribution, and promotional activities,
RealNetworks subsequently canceled its complaint in South Korea, “but the commission said it will continue to investigate Microsoft, saying the settlement won’t affect its ruling,” says Asia Times Online, going on:
South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) will decide if Microsoft has violated the country’s fair-trade rules and, “Many believe that the decision will be against Microsoft,” says Asia Times Online, adding:
"The commission could enter a remedial order that could bar us from offering a version of Windows Server with Windows Media Services as an optional component," the Form 10-Q filing made Thursday by Microsoft with the Securities and Exchange Commission said.
"If the FTC 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," the statement said.
“In another action, Microsoft may delay offering new versions of Windows software in South Korea unless the remedial order is stayed or overturned on appeal, it said.”
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See:-
Asia Times Online – Microsoft threatens to close Windows , October 29, 2005
new partnership – Real gets $761M from Microsoft, October 11, 2005
October 29th, 2005 at 7:20 am
Oh yeah right. Like they’re really gonna pull windows out of south korea?
Considering how pc literate the country’s population seems to be, i’d say there’d be linux distro’s modded for the local market for sale within days.
Either that or piracy of windows would go through the roof. Tho i suspect it’d be a case of both not one or the other. I somehow doubt this is any more than Steve “the chair” ballmer throwing another tanty.
PS for those who don’t know “tanty” means temper tantrum, you know, as in a small child demonstrating how upset they are about not getting their way.
Sounds about MS’s level of maturity to me.
October 29th, 2005 at 7:47 am
They (MS) think they can leverage their install base and THREATEN the Korean government and people… LOL… Who do they think they are?! Korea is a HI-TECH HUB. They are abound by talent. Lots of smart people there, and lots of options. They are the “next-Japan” in terms of Advanced Technology. So MS should be quivering it is boots knowing that embedded and smart devices of the future will be less associated with MS with this move.
Again, DUMB move MS!
October 29th, 2005 at 4:29 pm
Microsoft should be allowed to offer any product that it creates or licensed with its Winblows. This is what is called the free market. I still would like to see Micrisift withdraw its product from South Korea, however. Actually, I would like to see Microsoft withdraw its product worldwide.