Microsoft faces anti-monopoly probe in China

China's market regulator confirmed on Tuesday that it has launched an anti-monopoly investigation into Microsoft Corp's business in the Chinese mainland, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. "The investigation involved Microsoft China Co., Ltd, and three of its branches in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu," the State Administration for Industry and Commerce said, according to the report. The administration said the firm has not fully disclosed anti-competition information about its Windows operating system and Microsoft Office application as required. Inspectors are investigating a Microsoft vice president and senior managers, and have made copies of the firm's financial statements and contracts, the administration said in a statement. It has also seized documents, e-mails and other data from Microsoft's computers and servers. It has not been able to complete its investigation because key personnel of Microsoft are not in China or cannot be contacted.
In June last year, the administration investigated complaints from enterprises that Microsoft has used tie-in sales and verification codes in its Windows operating system and Microsoft Office application, causing software incompatibility issues. Microsoft failed to fully disclose information as required by the administration about such complaints in its reports submitted to the regulator, and may have breached China's Anti-Monopoly Law, the statement said.