China vs Microsoft - Maybe Not

Steve Dickinson at the China Law Blog says:

Both the English and the Chinese web have been rife with news of a Chinese government antitrust investigation of Microsoft's pricing of its software products. The reports initially stated the PRC State IP Office was investigating foreign software companies for selling software at higher prices in China than in their home jurisdictions. This has been a common complaint in China and many foreign software companies have been concerned China's new Anti-Monopoly Law would be used to attack legal IP monopolies obtained through copyright, patent and trademark law. However, to use the anti-monopoly law to attack high prices would undermine the foundations of IP protection. The news of such an investigation therefore raises serious concerns. It appears these reports may be false. Microsoft has stated it is unaware of any such investigation and the PRC State IP Office has issued a statement to the effect that it was not conducting any investigation and such reports were "seriously untrue."

To read more:

http://www.chinalawblog.com/2008/06/china_investigating_microsoft.html