ALAN FINLAY, Johannesburg | Thursday 2.00pm.
MICROSOFT South Africa has called a ruling by a United States judge ordering that the software giant be split in two “draconian” and says it is an “unwarranted intrusion” into the software industry.
However Microsoft SA’s marketing director Terry Annecke said it is unlikely the ruling will have much impact on the local operation for the time being.
US District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson ordered on Wednesday that Microsoft be split into two seperate companies, and that stringent limitations be imposed on the future business practices of both companies.
Microsoft is appealing the ruling, based on a 1998 court decision which said that government should not be involved in determining how software should be designed, and that Microsoft should be allowed to build its Internet Explorer into its Window’s operating system.
It could take as long as two years or more for the matter to be resolved.
Although about 90% of desktops in South African run a version of the Windows operating system, Annecke scoffs at the notion that Microsoft’s monopoly of the software industry has stifled competition. “Where have they [the competitors] been kept out by Microsoft? No-one stops IBM enhancing its own systems. No-one has stopped Apple from gaining market share. No-one is stopping Linux,” she said.
Annecke insists Microsoft is an “ethical competitor” and that the brand will not suffer an image problem through the ruling. “You are entitled to have a monopoly if you acquired it through your skills. We believe in what we have done and we believe it is good for the consumer.” She said the company is receiving a lot of support from customers and developers.
Annecke also said police have no new leads after last week’s bomb blast at its Johannesburg offices, which shattered windows. No-one has claimed responsibility for the blast.
Microsoft has recently embarked on a massive campaign against companies who use pirated software, and speculation has been fueled that this may be one of the reasons for the attack.
There are also rumours that some staff members may be disgruntled at the recent drop in the software giant’s share price after taking shares as a major part of their pay packages. The share price plunge is primarily a result of the antitrust case.