Chinese authorities confirm antitrust investigation into Microsoft

When you think about a legacy of software piracy of gargantuan proportions, and then couple that with the idea of China having an “anti-monopoly” business agency, it does make one scratch their head about news like this.

Following a raid on several Microsoft offices in China a couple days ago, officials have confirmed that it is looking into “monopolistic behavior” by Microsoft. As the government of China owns and controls any number of business entities, one cannot help but think oxymoronic thoughts.

“An investigation has been established into Microsoft Corporation on suspicions of monopolistic behavior,” according to an announcement by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. This is the same agency that cited Qualcomm as having a monopoly, and with the help of state-owned media has noted Windows 8 as being a mechanism for collecting personal data as well as announcing the iPhone as a “national security threat.”

As the notion of an “anti-monopoly” regulator in China does not make sense where the government ostensibly owns everything, the end-game in this “investigation” is some type of political position. What has not been revealed is what that goal is. The fact that more than 100 state officers raided Microsoft’s offices, confiscated computers, records, and interviewed personnel at those locations is all for show.

Remarks made by Chinese president Xi Jinping earlier this year sum up the ideology, “Only if core technologies are in our own hands can we truly hold the initiative in competition and development.”

source: WindowsITPro

14 Comments

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posted on 30 Jul 2014, 18:10 5

1. Augustine (Posts: 1043; Member since: 28 Sep 2013)

In China as in everywhere, the government hates when others compete with it.

posted on 30 Jul 2014, 18:44 3

2. joey_sfb (Posts: 6534; Member since: 29 Mar 2012)

Microsoft is a powerful organization but they still compete with other business not the countries government.

Microsoft is a proven monopolist even in the states. They still are in the enterprise sectors. They generally don't support open standards which is a basic requirement for any sector to compete on quality of products and services.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend_and_extinguish

posted on 30 Jul 2014, 20:10 2

7. Liveitup (Posts: 1798; Member since: 07 Jan 2014)

I guess China and world in general should then go after Google for bring a monopoly in Mobile then by your notion. You can't get more monopolist than Android in Mobile devices.

http://www.androidheadlines.com/2014/04/apple-slips-us-marketshare-android-makes-significant-gains-worldwide.html

posted on 30 Jul 2014, 20:12 3

8. Liveitup (Posts: 1798; Member since: 07 Jan 2014)

Don't forget YouTube and Google search, major monopolies.

posted on 30 Jul 2014, 21:15

10. techperson211 (Posts: 1280; Member since: 27 Feb 2014)

China will always do this to other companies without basis . Especially if that company is foreign they don't trust anybody except themselves . They never learned from WWII . They're thinking that they are unstoppable just like hitler thinks of himself.

posted on 30 Jul 2014, 22:08 3

11. AfterShock (Posts: 3698; Member since: 02 Nov 2012)

Please feel free not to use any Google services if you believe it to be so monopolistic.
Beside, the world wants android, not other.

Jelly on.

posted on 30 Jul 2014, 18:58 3

3. wilsong17 (unregistered)

So much for Scroogled

I hope Microsoft get fine big time

posted on 30 Jul 2014, 19:10 4

5. billgates (banned) (Posts: 555; Member since: 29 May 2014)

For what? Lol
Did you not read the article? What a poor government. They will allow things like Blantant copying and don't get me started on human rights but how dare any company not owned by them be functional without penalty. Microsoft hasn't been competitive in China for years let alone a monopoly

posted on 30 Jul 2014, 21:01 1

9. Arte-8800 (banned) (Posts: 4562; Member since: 13 Mar 2014)

Buttkick that dictatorship company, and billions in fines.

They deserve it.

posted on 30 Jul 2014, 19:09 1

4. realjjj (Posts: 375; Member since: 28 Jan 2014)

"As the notion of an “anti-monopoly” regulator in China does not make sense where the government ostensibly owns everything,"

lol
That logic would only work if M$ was a chinese company and no foreign companies would opperate in China.
It is also innacurate to say that the gov owns everything , they own everything in some sectors that they see as strategic but the majority of the GDP is generated by the private sector. Go ahead and Google for it.