Korean software firm sues Microsoft
Anti-trust damages sought
Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything
Microsoft has been slapped with a lawsuit filed by Korean instant messaging program developer Digito.com, which is claiming millions of dollars in anti-trust damages.
According to Korean newspaper Chosun, the US software mammoth has been accused of causing a loss in sales revenue estimated at W30bn (US$1=W918) because the firm's Windows operating system comes pre-loaded with a media player and instant messaging.
Seoul Central District Court confirmed yesterday that Digito was suing Microsoft in the US and Korea, claiming that the software giant had violated the Fair Trade Act since 2000.
Korea's first instant messenger was created by Digito in 1998 under the moniker Soft Messenger.
A Digito spokesman told Chosun: "If Microsoft hadn't bundled its instant messaging program with its operating system we could have reaped significant profits."
Just last week, Microsoft dropped an anti-trust appeal after the firm had been ordered to pay a $34m fine by South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) for breaking anti-trust laws by bundling its media player and messenger programs with Windows.
The KFTC also demanded that Microsoft should offer a version of its software without the pre-loaded applications. ®
COMMENTS
What a crock of shit
Honestly, listen to some of you.
My car is primarily a device for getting me from A to B. But it comes pre-loaded with Sat Nav and a CD player. But I don't see TomTom and Sony sueing Peugeot because I haven't gone out to buy their kit!
And I want a computer, out-of-the-box, to do IM, e-mail and Internet access. I don't give a toss if I can't fully un-install IE, as long as I'm free to install Firefox should I want to.
Remember that many people are perfectly happy with IE and Windows Messenger, and many people are also UNABLE to figure out how to download and install alternatives.
So if you own a company that makes IM apps or browsers, here's a tip: WRITE A BETTER F*CKING ONE THAN MICROSOFT, *THEN* you'll make some money!
@Raider Nation
Paper size, and it's all back to WW-II. I am glad that history is taught so well in the US. I guess that the larger the nation, the better the propaganda machine.
And while you're looking back 60 years, try a little further ... if it wasn't for the Brits, you'd be speaking Dutch. And if it wasn't for the French, you'd be speaking ... umm ... English ;)
We're talking about the US's inability to admit the existence of any other form of measurement than its own - Fahrenheit (nobody else uses it - give it up already!) ... silly pints with only 16 fl oz in them ... Letter and other paper sizes ...
The rest of the world is either already metric, or understands it - except the US (Seen their attempts to use the metric system? Mars Climate Orbiter anyone?)
When you can elect a president who is not a baboon (twice!) ... get back to us.
Paper Size
Hey maybe we use a different paper size here in the states. All I know is that if it weren't for us all you limeys and frogs and russkies would be singing Lily Marlene!!
IT infrastructure monitoring strategies
Requirements Checklist for Choosing a Cloud Backup and Recovery Service Provider
Data control in the cloud
Cloud based data management
Enabling efficient data center monitoring
