Chinese lawyer suggests to investigate Microsoft antitrust to fine 1 billion dollar

August 26, 2008

　　The proposal fines Department of Commerce of 1 billion dollar to make a response say to already was handled by foreign capital department

On August 15 afternoon, already industry of almost all to home forestall the commonweal lawyer Dong Zhengwei that “ gives handle ” , the registered letter that received Department of Commerce cases. Letter informs: To the antitrust of Microsoft investigation suggests to wait to had turned to be handled by foreign capital department.

Be in ” antitrust law ” carry out formally on August 1 before today, dong Zhengwei to Department of Commerce, country industrial and commercial hair of total bureau, country changes appoint give out ” the proposal requisition that requests to protect citizen property rights and interests ” , the proposal launchs antitrust investigation to Microsoft, fine 1 billion dollar to wait.

Department of Commerce is the first makes positive response orgnaization in 3 ministries and commissions.

　　 The very market of 70% controls a position

Newest data makes clear: Up to by June 2008, amount of our country netizen was achieved 253 million, china is annual grow in order to exceed the high speed of computer sales volume of 20% . Use a field in the computer however, the personal computer user of 70% and unit user, the computer window operating system that using Microsoft and office software system. Microsoft software product is holding the very market of 70% to control a position in Chinese market.

The lowermost price of the window operating system with Microsoft China newest market and office software Office2007 899 yuan, price of edition of WindowsVista family foundation 499 yuan. Press this computation, be in China, 2007 a year, microsoft window operating system and office software have 41.4 billion yuan of market share of the left and right sides at least. If consider the other product of Microsoft, this company is in China the profit of the market will be bigger.

The authentic of market monopoly position of Microsoft operating system and office software is undoubted.

From on 90 time begin the century, microsoft is in many countries and area encounter the whole world antitrust lawsuit. If American judiciary charged Microsoft operating system 1997, bind browser software and software of window operating system illegally the sale. And the advantage position that at present European Union committee investigates Microsoft to abuse its to go up in market of personal computer operating system ceaselessly, open those who give several euro to punish sheet. But Microsoft is current still stand erect does not fall, its market position was not weakened because of “ antitrust ” .

Bigger to harm of domestic software industry, it is Microsoft have the aid of at market forestall and technical forestall, through not open and compatible interface and bind the practice such as the sale, the vivosphere of enterprise of mainland of keep within limits, safeguard oneself monopoly position and sudden huge profits then.

Golden hill WPS(software of a kind of word processing) dying of old age dramaticly in those days is a typical case: For a time the weak demand of Ying Wei of golden hill WPS of fashionable China market opened interface, but did not think of, microsoft opens corresponding interface without Xiang Jinshan however. In Microsoft operating system bind below, WPS user changes Office to bosom ——— in succession when old hind WPS is OK and compatible when Office, microsoft alone old structure adapts hard already.

Fang Xingdong of famous IT essayist thinks, ” antitrust law ” the purpose that come on stage is to hit those to abuse the behavior that forestall hampers fairness competes. It is before this, fang Xingdong is the flagman that domestic appeal objects Microsoft hegemony all the time.

On July 5, beijing summer burning hot afternoon, in the guild hall with ZhongGuanCun quiet somewhere, those who come from Jiangsu always in Cao Can of general manager of science and technology, offerred a point of view to many 20 present public figure inside course of study: The “ that appeals the government labels Microsoft Chinese antitrust law ” of the first the accused.

This one viewpoint causes the approve of of present public figure very quickly. Issued the small-sized seminar that midday holds by rich guest net that day, the “ criticize and denounce sb that evolves very quickly to be aimed at Microsoft for is met ” . This kind of lively setting, fang Xingdong also feels even the patriarch of rich guest net accident.

　　 Powerful law Wu and public relations force

Face the condemn pressure of ” of such “ all the people of one mind, the reaction of Microsoft is quite rational, claim oneself had made the preparation that answers antitrust lawsuit. Microsoft still makes known his position, supportive China is creating the effort that respect of fair competition environment makes, microsoft will continue to abide by Chinese law and code.

The personage inside relevant course of study thinks, microsoft antitrust is seasoned, law Wu and public relations force are powerful, and Chinese respect prepares to be not worth, estimation achieves substantial result very hard inside short time, because antitrust lawsuit is at every turn a few years.