China vs Microsoft

Microsoft feeds a lot of people in China, and I am not talking about its employees there. I am not thinking about those that are probably helped by Bill Gates' foundation, if any. Look at the picture below, and you should get the idea - those selling fake Windows Vista copies surely must thank Microsoft for giving them the chance to do so, but it's not about them today. Quite unexpected, but it seems the Chinese authorities have just started an antimonopoly investigation into the US giant, but other global software companies are also being targeted!

The problem is simple - the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office has to prove that Microsoft is engaged in discriminatory pricing...or not. According to a Chinese source, quoted by Xinhua Financial News, the SIPO is waiting for August, when the antimonopoly laws are going to be enacted, to start a serious antitrust lawsuit, so Microsoft should get ready for a rough ride!

The interesting part of the story is that Microsoft seems unaware of this, or so they want us to believe. A Singapore-based Microsoft spokesman said "Microsoft is unaware of any investigation but is always willing to work with and cooperate with the Chinese government," so...where's the truth? May this be only a rumor?

To be honest, I think Microsoft is a cow with a lot of milk, and governments all over the world seem to see this. I know - they are not pure as a white dove either, but why so many lawsuits now? I guess the European Comission only created a reason for others to jump on Microsoft, after all...

At last - don't get me wrong - Microsoft also continues to go on with a huge marketing flaw - emerging countries need prices to match the purchasing power. I know this discussion can go on for days, but I am sure all of you can imagine other ways to recover those money a company may lose if selling low-priced software to emerging countries.