t*****r 发帖数: 4431 | 1 China investigating Microsoft in monopoly case
By JOE McDONALD
AP Business Writer
China's anti-monopoly agency announced an investigation Tuesday of Microsoft
Corp., stepping up regulatory pressure on foreign technology companies.
The State Administration for Industry and Commerce said it opened a case in
June after complaints Microsoft improperly failed to publish all
documentation for its Windows operating system and Office software. It said
investigators visited Microsoft's China headquarters in Beijing and branches
in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu in southwestern China this week.
"The administration believes the previous investigation cannot eliminate
that Microsoft engaged in monopolistic behavior," the agency said on its
website. "The administration has launched an investigation of Microsoft's
monopolistic behavior."
Microsoft, in a prepared statement, said it aims "to build products that
deliver the features, security and reliability customers expect, and we will
address any concerns the government may have."
Foreign technology suppliers face growing pressure from Chinese regulators,
who have launched anti-monopoly investigations and announced plans to
examine products for security flaws.
China relies heavily on foreign software and communications technology.
Communist leaders have expressed frustration about the high cost of foreign
know-how and have invested billions of dollars to develop their own phone,
encryption, software and other technology industries.
Chinese state media have stepped up criticism of foreign technology
companies following disclosures by former National Security Agency
contractor Edward Snowden about their possible cooperation with U.S.
government surveillance.
In a separate case, state media said last week regulators have concluded
Qualcomm Inc., a San Diego, California-based maker of chip sets for mobile
phones, has a monopoly. The reports gave no indication what penalties or
demands for changes in its business practices might be demanded.
Regulators said earlier they were investigating whether Qualcomm abused its
dominant market position by charging excessive fees for technology. They
announced a similar investigation at the same time of InterDigital Inc., in
Wilmington, Delaware, but the results have not been announced.
Also this month, Apple Inc. denied allegations reported by state television
that the location function on its iPhone might be a national security threat
because it could allow access to confidential information. The company said
it respected customers' privacy and denied working with government
intelligence services to create such "back door" access.
Managers of foreign technology companies complain regulators improperly use
investigations and other administrative actions to hamper their operations
and support domestic competitors.
Beijing has tried to compel foreign suppliers to disclose how encryption and
other security technology work but backed down after complaints by the
United States and other trading partners.
The government also is stepping up scrutiny of foreign companies and has
cited its 2008 anti-monopoly law in ordering changes to acquisitions or
business practices.
In June, the world's three biggest container shipping operators -- Denmark's
A.P. Moller-Maersk and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. SA and CMA CGM of
France -- scrapped a plan to create an alliance after Chinese market
regulators objected.
Last August, five foreign milk suppliers and one in Hong Kong were fined a
total of $108 million by anti-monopoly regulators on charges of price-fixing.
The government tries to support China's fledgling suppliers by favoring them
in procurement. Banks and major companies were ordered in 2010 to limit use
of foreign security technology.
In May, the government announced it would examine imported technology for
security flaws and ban products that fail. That came after U.S. authorities
announced the indictment of five Chinese military officers accused of
conducting cyber hacking of American companies. | t*****r 发帖数: 4431 | | J****h 发帖数: 623 | 3 70% operation margin, what kind of business can give you this kind of profit
margin except drugs?
And if you pc has xp, you are on you own. Not to mention the prizm backdoor.
. The solutions, Linux. |
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