Microsoft may soon be the focus of an investigation by South Korean regulators into allegations that the software giant is fixing prices in the region. According to a report from ZDNet Korea, senior officials that represent an alliance of Internet cafes in South Korea called the “Internet PC Culture Association” will ask South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission to investigate the Redmond, Washington-based company.
The request will reportedly be made later this month by the IPCA, and it pertains to accusations that Microsoft violated Korean antitrust laws by using its status to sell its software at elevated prices to Internet cafes.
“We plan to sue Microsoft to the Fair Trade Commission for its one-way selling policy and uncompromising stance against us by using its position as the dominant player,” a senior IPCA official told ZDNet Korea. Another official said the purchase price of Microsoft’s Windows operating system is often as high as the PCs themselves.
