News
Microsoft Foresees More Lawuits in Japan
A legal battle between Microsoft and Japanese anti-monopoly authorities is
likely to conclude next year and might lead to lawsuits or other patent infringement
complaints against the U.S. software company, an executive said Thursday.
Any such action will likely happen only in Japan, apply to Japanese patents
filed in or before 2004, and will not affect U.S. patents, Microsoft Corp. Senior
Vice President Brad Smith said during a trip to Tokyo.
The Fair Trade Commission, the nation's antitrust body, and Microsoft have
been wrangling since 2004 over a controversial clause in licensing agreements.
The clause prevents companies from suing Microsoft over patent and copyright
infringement if they suspect their own software technology has ended up in the
Windows operating system.
Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, has repeatedly said the clause is
lawful. It dropped the clause in 2004.
The commission has said it suspects the clause has helped Microsoft unlawfully
infringe patents. Hearings have been held in Tokyo to look at the commission's
and Microsoft's positions. Smith said a decision from the commission is expected
in 2008.
The clause has so far prevented companies from bringing infringement complaints
against Microsoft, said Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, who oversees policy
on intellectual property and competition issues worldwide.
"Maybe they would have some new ability to raise that claim," including
possible lawsuits against Microsoft and computer manufacturers, if the commission
rejects Microsoft's view, he said.
Commission officials are not certain that Microsoft has violated any patents,
and it is still unclear what the commission may decide.
Several Japanese electronics makers have complained about suspected infringements
since December 2000.
Major Japanese manufacturers are partners with Microsoft, including Sony Corp.,
Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., which makes Panasonic
brand products.
Microsoft has been slapped with hefty fines by European Union regulators, who
have said Microsoft broke competition laws and abused its dominant market position.
Recently, the EU has threatened Microsoft with new, multimillion-dollar (euro)
fines over claims it is asking rivals to pay too much for information that would
help their servers work with Windows. Microsoft has countered that regulating
such pricing on a global basis goes beyond the EU's jurisdiction.