South Korea's Fair Trade Commission has been investigating Microsoft for the bundling of a media player and instant messenger in the Windows Operating System. If Microsoft are found to be using unfair business practices in doing so, they may be made to remove the offending bundled items.
However, unlike in Europe, where Microsoft put together a special version of XP, they might not bother at all, and end up pulling XP from South Korea. This begs the question, is Microsoft getting stroppy about investigations into software bundled with Windows, or is it just not worth them bothering rushing to roll out a revision Windows distribution for the country?
Reuters reports on a comment from Microsoft in a U.S. regulatory filing, in which the company states "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." So how do you interpret that? Is the withdrawl/delay possibility down to the work required to action any changes, or a form of punishment?
Thinking realistically, Microsoft isn't going to remove its products from a market out of spite, the more sales the merrier. However, it does mean that consumers in South Korea seeking out Windows may have trouble, but of course other companies may benefit as a result.
It seems the world of antitrust investigations never ceases to be interesting.
