RocketJeff writes "South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has been investigating Microsoft since 2001 for violations of South Korea's antitrust rules. According to a Reuters article, part of a recent Microsoft regulatory filing states 'it might be necessary to withdraw Windows from the Korean market or delay offering new versions in Korea.' Basically, Microsoft is threatening to take their marbles and go home if they don't get the ruling they want."Ads_xl=0;Ads_yl=0;Ads_xp='';Ads_yp='';Ads_xp1='';Ads_yp1='';Ads_par='';Ads_cnturl='';Ads_prf='page=article';Ads_channels='RON_P6_IMU';Ads_wrd='microsoft';Ads_kid=0;Ads_bid=0;Ads_sec=0; Microsoft Threatens To Withdraw Windows in S.Korea Log in/Create an Account | Top | 535 comments (Spill at 50!) | Index Only | Search Discussion Display Options Threshold: -1: 535 comments 0: 524 comments 1: 408 comments 2: 269 comments 3: 69 comments 4: 41 comments 5: 36 comments Flat Nested No Comments Threaded Oldest First Newest First Highest Scores First Oldest First (Ignore Threads) Newest First (Ignore Threads) The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. (1) | 2 Good strategy (Score:5, Funny) by It doesn't come easy (695416) * <acc.slashdot@can ... m ['ine' in gap]> on Friday October 28, @11:05AM (#13897119) (Last Journal: Wednesday November 02, @01:41PM) Right...that should convince the South Korean government (and the rest of the world) that they're not an abusive monopoly. [ Reply to This Re:Good strategy (Score:5, Interesting) by JavaLord (680960) on Friday October 28, @11:08AM (#13897162) (Last Journal: Friday October 29, @08:54AM) I wonder what percentage of the south korean economy is made up of those internet cafes. Switching OS's won't really be fun for them (if it comes to that.).Gaming is fairly big in SK also, somehow I think 'it runs on WINE' isn't going to fly. [ Reply to This | Parent Re:Good strategy (Score:5, Insightful) by Tester (591) <tester&tester,ca> on Friday October 28, @11:13AM (#13897211) (http://www.tester.ca/) Gaming is fairly big in SK also, somehow I think 'it runs on WINE' isn't going to fly.But it runs on the Playstation probably is.. Its also a huge market for games, so this might make people write/port their games to non-Microsoft operation systems.. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Good strategy by Pausanias (Score:2) Friday October 28, @01:32PMRe:Good strategy by JavaLord (Score:2) Friday October 28, @02:00PMRe:Good strategy by SillyNickName4me (Score:2) Friday October 28, @02:55PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Good strategy by Blue_Nile (Score:1) Friday October 28, @11:27PMRe:Good strategy by xrobertcmx (Score:2) Friday October 28, @01:39PMRe:Good strategy by stanositar (Score:1) Saturday November 05, @08:18AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Good strategy by Chiisu (Score:1) Friday October 28, @02:19PMRe:Good strategy by dba7db (Score:1) Friday October 28, @02:42PMSecret bootloader by tepples (Score:2) Friday October 28, @03:18PMRe:Good strategy by moogleii (Score:1) Friday October 28, @03:29PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.2 replies beneath your current threshold.Re:Good strategy by mlk (Score:2) Friday October 28, @11:23AMRe:Good strategy by oakgrove (Score:1) Friday October 28, @07:53PMRe:Good strategy by mlk (Score:1) Monday October 31, @06:51AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Good strategy by Fiver- (Score:2) Friday October 28, @11:24AMRe:Good strategy by pete6677 (Score:3) Friday October 28, @11:25AMRe:Good strategy by jxyama (Score:3) Friday October 28, @11:42AMRe:Good strategy by rainman_bc (Score:3) Friday October 28, @12:11PMRe:Good strategy by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Friday October 28, @12:35PMRe:Good strategy by Shanep (Score:2) Friday October 28, @03:30PMRe:Good strategy by mOdQuArK! (Score:1) Friday October 28, @03:32PMRe:Good strategy by falconwolf (Score:2) Friday October 28, @04:05PMRe:Good strategy by mOdQuArK! (Score:1) Friday October 28, @04:30PMRe:Good strategy by roguebfl (Score:1) Saturday October 29, @12:12AMRe:Good strategy by falconwolf (Score:2) Friday October 28, @04:48PMRe:Good strategy by drsmithy (Score:2) Friday October 28, @09:42PMRe:Good strategy by mOdQuArK! (Score:1) Friday October 28, @11:23PMRe:Good strategy by drsmithy (Score:2) Saturday October 29, @09:37AMRe:Good strategy by mOdQuArK! (Score:1) Saturday October 29, @12:23PMRe:Good strategy by mOdQuArK! (Score:1) Saturday October 29, @12:44PMRe:Good strategy by drsmithy (Score:2) Tuesday November 01, @01:44AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Good strategy by timeOday (Score:2) Friday October 28, @11:45AM Re:Good strategy (Score:5, Funny) by jacen_sunstrider (797955) on Friday October 28, @12:07PM (#13897773) (http://www.wardtanger.com/ | Last Journal: Wednesday January 26, @09:59PM) Eventually? [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Good strategy by mhuehne (Score:1) Friday October 28, @04:48PMRe:Good strategy by Anonymous Coward (Score:3) Friday October 28, @11:45AM Re:Good strategy (Score:5, Interesting) by Pentavirate (867026) on Friday October 28, @12:12PM (#13897836) (http://www.pentavirate.org/ | Last Journal: Thursday March 17, @05:11PM) There are countries where piracy is more rampant than others. I lived in Venezuela in the mid 90's and I'd never seen such rampant piracy before in my life. People sold copies of copywrited material on every street corner. From bad duplicates of Simpson T-shirts to stacks and stacks of audio cassettes coppied onto blank tapes. I don't know anything about South Korea, but you can't say that piracy problems are the exact same no matter where you are in the world. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Good strategy by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Friday October 28, @12:31PMRe:Good strategy by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Friday October 28, @02:10PMmanagement/engineering/line workers by zogger (Score:1) Friday October 28, @05:04PMRe:management/engineering/line workers by vinn01 (Score:1) Friday October 28, @05:34PMRe:management/engineering/line workers by John Courtland (Score:2) Saturday October 29, @08:26AMRe:management/engineering/line workers by zogger (Score:1) Saturday October 29, @12:28PMRe:management/engineering/line workers by John Courtland (Score:2) Tuesday November 01, @11:44PMRe:management/engineering/line workers by zogger (Score:1) Wednesday November 02, @09:03AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Good strategy by lilmouse (Score:2) Saturday October 29, @07:07PM Re:Good strategy (Score:4, Insightful) by SQL_SAM (697455) on Friday October 28, @12:38PM (#13898101) First, South Korea isn't known for piracy any more than any other country. I did a simple google search (piracy in south Korea) and found the following interesting articles. I may be wrong, but it does look like S. Korea is known for a major amount of piracy And is my opinion that we (United States) are no way as close to the piracy in other countries like South Korea as we tend to fear repercussions and law suits more then other countries do... http://www.mpaa.org/PiracyFactSheets/PiracyFactShe etSouthKorea.pdf [mpaa.org] http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117907504?catego ryid=1009&cs=1 [variety.com] Piracy losses (US$ millions) $27 million Seizures (all items) 231,514 Piracy level (Video & Optical Disc) 25% "Piracy has been on the rebound in South Korea since the economic downturn in2001 and 2002. Historically, piracy of high quality, counterfeit videocassettes hasbeen the most prevalent in the market. However, in 2003, there has been asignificant increase in the number of DVD imports and optical disc burneroperations in South Korea. In addition, duplication facilities of videocassetteplants and now burner labs have become larger, more secretive and moresophisticated with technology. This signals a shift from the historical trend wherepiracy duplication facilities had small and medium capacity. South Korea's cat-and-mouse with piracy [com.com] "With a piracy rate of 40 percent to 50 percent, according to various estimates, South Korea has become one of the hot spots for cracking down on illegal software." Again I may be wrong but it seems that your statement is unfounded. - Cheers! [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Good strategy by Anonymous Coward (Score:2) Friday October 28, @01:10PMRe:Good strategy by wgaryhas (Score:2) Friday October 28, @01:21PMRe:Good strategy by wgaryhas (Score:1) Friday October 28, @01:24PMRe:Good strategy by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Friday October 28, @02:23PM2 replies beneath your current threshold.Re:Good strategy by Citizen of Earth (Score:3) Friday October 28, @01:54PMRe:Good strategy by ultranova (Score:3) Friday October 28, @02:25PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Good strategy by neelm (Score:1) Friday October 28, @02:40PMRe:Good strategy by manastungare (Score:1) Friday October 28, @01:35PM1 reply beneath your current threshold. Re:Good strategy (Score:5, Insightful) by Klivian (850755) on Friday October 28, @11:29AM (#13897384) I wonder what percentage of the south korean economy is made up of those internet cafes. Switching OS's won't really be fun for them (if it comes to that.). Does not really matter, as it's not like MS can reclaim already existing Windows installs. It may create some annoyances for people planing new deployments or upgrades, but existing install will not be affected in any way. It's like if Ford decided to stop making cars, it would not cause all the Fords currently on the road to stop working. [ Reply to This | Parent Re:Good strategy (Score:4, Interesting) by Shakrai (717556) <tchaika@gmail.com> on Friday October 28, @11:51AM (#13897595) (Last Journal: Monday September 19, @09:39AM) It's like if Ford decided to stop making cars, it would not cause all the Fords currently on the road to stop working. That reminds me of a story about how Cuba is filled with classic American cars from the 1940s and 1950s that are (for the most part) still well maintained and still on the road after all these years. They can't get new cars easily because the closest nation won't trade with them and for the longest time neither would most of the Western World.Granted, software isn't automobiles and there are ways around it (run the American version, pirate it, switch to linux, etc.) but it's kind of amusing to think of an entire nation running Windows 2000 and XP 40 years from now. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Good strategy by LizardKing (Score:2) Friday October 28, @12:07PMRe:Good strategy by edxwelch (Score:1) Friday October 28, @04:46PMRe:Good strategy by bhiestand (Score:1) Sunday October 30, @02:39AMRe:Good strategy by CaptainZapp (Score:2) Monday October 31, @04:26AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Good strategy by metalpet (Score:2) Friday October 28, @11:59AMRe:Good strategy by Alsn (Score:1) Friday October 28, @12:46PMRe:Good strategy by InvalidError (Score:2) Friday October 28, @03:47PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Well, for now... by ILikeRed (Score:2) Friday October 28, @12:02PMRe:Well, for now... by xs650 (Score:3) Friday October 28, @01:59PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Yeah, they do that on their own by chadseld (Score:1) Friday October 28, @01:44PMRe:Good strategy by orkysoft (Score:1) Friday October 28, @01:52PMRe:Good strategy by misleb (Score:2) Friday October 28, @02:24PMInternet cafés - Linux would be PERFECT there by toby (Score:2) Friday October 28, @03:00PMRe:Good strategy by TetryonX (Score:1) Friday October 28, @12:08PMRe:Good strategy by prof.morbius (Score:1) Friday October 28, @12:27PMRe:Good strategy by Impy the Impiuos Imp (Score:1) Friday October 28, @03:32PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re: internet cafes by FlippyTheSkillsaw (Score:1) Friday October 28, @03:09PMLess Of a Problem Than You Think by ObsessiveMathsFreak (Score:2) Friday October 28, @03:34PMActually, this is bad strategy by WindBourne (Score:2) Friday October 28, @03:42PMRe:Good strategy by Cipster (Score:2) Friday October 28, @03:47PMSK and MMORPG Mania by 0xB00F (Score:2) Friday October 28, @09:56PMSwitching OS's? by phorm (Score:2) Friday October 28, @10:02PMRe:Good strategy by Daengbo (Score:1) Saturday November 05, @09:27AM Re:Good strategy (Score:5, Insightful) by El Cubano (631386) <roberto@familiQU ... .net minus punct> on Friday October 28, @11:12AM (#13897200) (http://familiasanchez.net/~roberto) Right...that should convince the South Korean government (and the rest of the world) that they're not an abusive monopoly.I don't care what the rest of the world thinks. I would just like to see them do the same throughout the rest of the world. Start threatening to take Windows out of the various world markets and see the wonders it does for OSS alternatives. At the very least people will begin to prepare migration plans and so on. [ Reply to This | Parent2 replies beneath your current threshold.Re:Good strategy by Shads (Score:2) Friday October 28, @11:12AM Re:Good strategy (Score:5, Insightful) by MoonFog (586818) on Friday October 28, @11:20AM (#13897287) (http://slashdot.org/ | Last Journal: Wednesday July 06, @06:10AM) Or it would spark more piracy as people desperate to play Counterstrike and Starcraft download Windows instead of buying it in the stores. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Good strategy by MyHair (Score:2) Friday October 28, @11:33AMRe:Good strategy by Phisbut (Score:2) Friday October 28, @01:48PMRe:Good strategy by Destoo (Score:2) Friday October 28, @11:53AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.1 reply beneath your current threshold.1 reply beneath your current threshold. Clause in Longhorn EULA to come (Score:5, Funny) by TheSpoom (715771) * on Friday October 28, @11:14AM (#13897227) (http://www.uberm00.net/ | Last Journal: Monday January 19, @09:27PM) 24. ANTI-SOUTH KOREA PROVISIONWindows may not be used and is not licensed for use in any area of South Korea because they are big doodyheads and we don't like them any more. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Clause in Longhorn EULA to come by Shakrai (Score:3) Friday October 28, @11:55AMRe:Clause in Longhorn EULA to come by thephotoman (Score:2) Friday October 28, @12:24PMRe:Clause in Longhorn EULA to come by ihgreenman (Score:1) Friday October 28, @12:26PMI REALLY don't think THEY'RE using Windows. by crovira (Score:2) Friday October 28, @12:42PMRe:I REALLY don't think THEY'RE using Windows. by Shakrai (Score:1) Friday October 28, @04:07PM2 replies beneath your current threshold.Re:Clause in Longhorn EULA to come by Forager (Score:2) Friday October 28, @12:53PMAnd watch South Korean ©s disappear too by tepples (Score:2) Friday October 28, @03:28PMRe:And watch South Korean ©s disappear too by SirPavlova (Score:1) Friday October 28, @11:09PMRe:And watch South Korean ©s disappear too by bhiestand (Score:1) Sunday October 30, @03:56AMSounds Google familiar.... by highspl (Score:1) Friday October 28, @01:59PM2 replies beneath your current threshold. Re:Good strategy (Score:5, Insightful) by QuietLagoon (813062) on Friday October 28, @11:21AM (#13897297) Exactly. All this would be is a short-term pain for South Korea. In the long-term, however, it would convince companies in South Korea and elsewhere not to place strategic reliance upon a proprietary operating system that can be pulled off the market on a whim.I have to wonder, is Microsoft's future sales of Windows starting to look so bleak that Microsoft needs to play poker with their customers? I know that yesterday's quarterly report was not the greatest, but I didn't think it was bad enough to start warranting this type of chair-throwing behavior with South Korea.On a side note, since this news broke, if any CIO manager who is dependent upon Windows is not starting to look for strategic alternatives, that IT mangaer is not doing his or her job. [ Reply to This | Parent Re:Good strategy (Score:5, Funny) by Dogtanian (588974) on Friday October 28, @12:06PM (#13897770) (http://babelfish.alt...%2F%2Fslashdot.jp%2F) I have to wonder, is Microsoft's future sales of Windows starting to look so bleak that Microsoft needs to play poker with their customers? Steve Ballmer is reported to have said "Fucking South Koreans are fucking pussies. I'm going to fucking bury that country, I have done it before, and I will do it again. I'm going to fucking destroy South Korea." ....In other news, Microsoft are reported to be engaged in talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il regarding what Ballmer calls a "synergistic exchange of resources; in exchange for free Windows XP Home licenses, Microsoft will receive the use of North Korea's dedicated military personnel and hardware, including 'cutting edge nuclear technology'".It was noted by analysts that Ballmer was "unusually serene and satisfied looking" during this announcement. The reason for this is as yet unclear. [ Reply to This | ParentThe next day... by temojen (Score:2) Friday October 28, @12:31PMA white ball of death. by crovira (Score:2) Friday October 28, @12:49PMRe:The next day... by sessamoid (Score:2) Friday October 28, @02:01PMRe:The next day... by mpe (Score:2) Friday October 28, @02:19PMRe:The next day... by ultranova (Score:2) Friday October 28, @02:42PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Good strategy by DigiShaman (Score:1) Friday October 28, @01:00PMRe:Good strategy by killjoe (Score:2) Friday October 28, @02:39PMNo Worries! by ChiefPilot (Score:1) Friday October 28, @07:37PMRe:Good strategy by Mean Variance (Score:1) Friday October 28, @12:10PMRe:Good strategy by bluGill (Score:2) Friday October 28, @02:54PMRe:Good strategy by jiushao (Score:2) Friday October 28, @12:53PMRe:Good strategy by QuietLagoon (Score:2) Friday October 28, @12:59PMOpen Document Format looking better and better... by Eric Damron (Score:2) Friday October 28, @02:39PMRe:Good strategy by slashname3 (Score:2) Friday October 28, @03:06PMRe:Good strategy -- No, BRILLIANT by griffjon (Score:3) Friday October 28, @11:32AMRe:Good strategy -- No, BRILLIANT by PReDiToR (Score:2) Friday October 28, @01:34PM Korean Strategy: All Microsoft IP declared Public (Score:5, Insightful) by Confessed Geek (514779) on Friday October 28, @12:07PM (#13897776) You can't play hardball with an independent nation..Tomrrows Headlines:Korea declares all Microsoft IP, Software and Copywrites to be in the Korean Public Domain. All Microsoft Offices Nationalized and documents seized for "National Security" [ Reply to This | Parent Re:Korean Strategy: All Microsoft IP declared Publ (Score:5, Informative) by Landaras (159892) <neil@wehneman.com> on Friday October 28, @12:29PM (#13898003) (http://www.lifeofalawstudent.com/) Korea declares all Microsoft IP, Software and Copywrites to be in the Korean Public Domain. Diclaimer: IANAL, but I am a law student.As much as that (semi-humorous) thought would warm my heart, South Korea is a member of the World Trade Organization [wto.org], which requires signing the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights ("TRIPs") [wikipedia.org], which incorporates the Berne Convention [wikipedia.org] by reference.What does this mean? It means that South Korea is obligated to recognize foreign copyrights, and stripping that protection for (arguably valid) nationalist reasons would almost certainly be in violation of international law. I haven't had a chance to fully and formally study the documents in question, but I would be shocked if there would be no recourse by the WTO. - Neil WehnemanP.S. Berne is a major impediment to full and free reform of copyright on a national level, as it mandates signatory countries to grant at least a copyright term of life of the author plus fifty years. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Korean Strategy: All Microsoft IP declared Publ by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF (Score:3) Friday October 28, @01:07PMRe:Korean Strategy: All Microsoft IP declared Publ by spyfrog (Score:1) Friday October 28, @01:48PMRe:Korean Strategy: All Microsoft IP declared Publ by killjoe (Score:1) Friday October 28, @01:09PMRe:Korean Strategy: All Microsoft IP declared Publ by mpe (Score:2) Friday October 28, @02:23PMRe:We put undies on their heads!!! OMFG!!! by Johnny Mnemonic (Score:2) Friday October 28, @06:55PMRe:We put undies on their heads!!! OMFG!!! by killjoe (Score:2) Saturday October 29, @12:12AM1 reply beneath your current threshold.So has china.... by Danathar (Score:2) Friday October 28, @01:49PM4 replies beneath your current threshold.Re:Korean Strategy: All Microsoft IP declared Publ by (arg!)Styopa (Score:2) Friday October 28, @01:34PMRe:Korean Strategy: All Microsoft IP declared Publ by mikiN (Score:2) Friday October 28, @03:34PMRe:Korean Strategy: All Microsoft IP declared Publ by mikiN (Score:2) Friday October 28, @04:18PM Re:Good strategy (Score:5, Interesting) by bigman2003 (671309) on Friday October 28, @12:16PM (#13897872) (http://insidewoodland.com/) First the United StatesThen the E.U.Now South KoreaHow long until every government jumps on the $500,000,000 + bandwagon of suing Microsoft?They really don't have many choices. Now they are at the point where their only answer is: "We don't negotiate with terrorists." [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Good strategy by freeweed (Score:3) Friday October 28, @12:52PMRe:Good strategy by jfelix1010 (Score:1) Friday October 28, @01:41PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Good strategy by deaddrunk (Score:2) Friday October 28, @12:59PMI don't know, how long before... by WindBourne (Score:2) Friday October 28, @03:49PMRe:Good strategy by wljones (Score:2) Friday October 28, @04:14PMRe:Good strategy by Rufus88 (Score:2) Friday October 28, @05:51PMRe:Good strategy by danbeck (Score:1) Friday October 28, @01:47PMRe:Good strategy by Herby Sagues (Score:1) Friday October 28, @10:34PMIn other news... by serutan (Score:2) Saturday October 29, @02:11AM3 replies beneath your current threshold. Oh, that's fine! That's fine! (Score:5, Funny) by Mayhem178 (920970) on Friday October 28, @11:05AM (#13897122) Screw you guys! I'm going home! [ Reply to ThisRe:Oh, that's fine! That's fine! by Anonymous Coward (Score:2) Friday October 28, @11:30AMRe:Oh, that's fine! That's fine! by MyHair (Score:1) Friday October 28, @11:35AMRe:Oh, that's fine! That's fine! by harley_frog (Score:1) Friday October 28, @11:41AM1 reply beneath your current threshold. In Korea (Score:5, Funny) by faqmaster (172770) <jones.tm@gmaCHICAGOil.com minus city> on Friday October 28, @11:05AM (#13897125) (http://antidefactualization.blogspot.com/ | Last Journal: Friday April 01, @11:09AM) Only old people use Windows in Korea. [ Reply to ThisRe:In Korea by Spacejock (Score:2) Friday October 28, @11:07AMMod parent insightful! by Spy der Mann (Score:2) Friday October 28, @12:13PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:In Korea by peterpi (Score:2) Friday October 28, @01:51PM3 replies beneath your current threshold.ROFL by Vengeance (Score:2) Friday October 28, @11:05AMRe:ROFL by BerntB (Score:2) Friday October 28, @11:33AM Deep Thought said it best (Score:5, Funny) by Verteiron (224042) on Friday October 28, @11:06AM (#13897128) (http://slashdot.org/) "And who will that inconvenience?" [ Reply to ThisRe:Deep Thought said it best by displaced80 (Score:2) Friday October 28, @12:19PMRe:Deep Thought said it best by shawb (Score:1) Friday October 28, @12:54PMRe:Deep Thought said it best by silverkniveshotmail. (Score:2) Sunday October 30, @11:27PM1 reply beneath your current threshold. Their software (Score:5, Insightful) by MrDoh1 (906953) on Friday October 28, @11:06AM (#13897130) It's their software, shouldn't they be able to sell it or not sell it where they wish? [ Reply to This Re:Their software (Score:5, Funny) by filtur (724994) on Friday October 28, @11:15AM (#13897230) (http://www.philtur.com/)