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The Fair Trade Commission on Wednesday fined Microsoft W33 billion (about US$33 million) and ordered the U.S. software giant to offer a version of its Windows operating system without its Media Player and MSN messenger programs alongside the one that bundles them into the package. The fair trade watchdog decided that bundling of the two programs into the operating system violates antitrust laws.
The FTC also ordered Microsoft to let rival companies embed their media player and messenger products in Windows. The U.S. firm will be required to update the OS to make that possible. It has 180 days to comply. As a result, consumers will have to download the Microsoft messenger and player themselves if they want them.
FTC Chairman Kang Chul-kyu said the bundling harmed competition by monopolizing the media player and messenger markets, raising barriers into the OS market and hurting consumers.
Microsoft Korea in a press release vowed to appeal the decision. The firm said it complied with Korean law and tried to promote the interest of Korean consumers.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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