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Journalism of Courage
Officials from Japan8217;s fair trade watchdog raided the Japanese unit of US software giant Microsoft Corp. on Thursday on suspicion of anti-monopoly law violations, the authorities said. A spokesperson at Microsoft Japan confirmed that the fair trade commission inspected the Tokyo headquarters office but denied any wrongdoing.
A Commission official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Microsoft Japan is suspected of attaching improper restrictive conditions when signing software deals with Japanese personal computer manufacturers, such as requiring that the Japanese companies allow infringement of their patents. The Microsoft spokesperson, who requested anonymity, said the company is cooperating with the investigation, which involves questions about wording on copyright and patents in the licensing agreement with Japanese manufacturers. She said the company sees nothing inappropriate about the licensing agreements. In the US, a spokeperson with Microsoft Corp. did not immediately return a call till late Wednesday. Agencies
