Microsoft Rejects Japan Agency’s Warning Against Anticompetitive Practice

Jul. 26–TOKYO — Microsoft Corp. told the Japanese Fair Trade Commission on Monday that it will not stop what the antimonopoly watchdog claims is an anticompetitive practice in connection with software licensing deals with Japanese personal computer makers.

Contracts with Japanese PC makers do not violate the Japanese antimonopoly law, Microsoft said in its reply to the FTC’s warning against the deals earlier this month.

The U.S. software giant also said it will explain its stance in coming hearings with the FTC.

The contracts with 15 Japanese PC makers, such as NEC Corp. and Fujitsu Ltd., include a nonassertion of patents provision clause stipulating that they will take no legal action even if Microsoft’s technologies are deemed to violate their patents, according to the FTC, which considers the clause anticompetitive.

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