Microsoft launches Korean anti-trust appeal

By Alun Williams

Posted on 27 Mar 2006 at 12:27

Microsoft has appealed against the South Korean authories ruling that it broke anti-trust regulations, according to The Seattle Times.

The Redmond response to the charges has been filed in the Seoul High Court, reports the newspaper. The issue revolves around the bundling of the Windows Media Player and instant messaging software as part of the Windows operating system, and the effect this had on competition from third-party software providers.

The South Korean authorities found Microsoft guilty back in December (already having investigated Intel on similar anti-trust charges).

Microsoft had warned that if the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KTFC) orders it to 'remove code or redesign Windows' then 'it might be necessary to withdraw Windows from the Korean market or delay offering new versions in Korea'.

Nontheless, sanctions very similar to those of the EU were imposed. Microsoft was ordered to pay a $32m fine for antitrust violations, and the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) also ruled that Microsoft must offer an alternative version of Windows stripped of the Media Player and instant messaging technologies. The original, 'fully featured' version must also include links to media and messaging software from rival developers.