Microsoft Japan offices raided
Slashdot reports today that Microsoft’s Tokyo office has been raided by Japan’s Fair Trade Commission, which is investigating whether Microsoft violated the country’s anti-monopoly law. A commission official commented that Microsoft Japan is suspected of “attaching improper restrictive conditions” when signing software deals with Japanese PC makers, such as requiring that Japanese companies allow infringement of their patents.
Apparently their mild punishment for violating U.S. anti-trust law has left no lasting scars. Perhaps the Japanese government will be less forgiving.