January 15, 1998 (TOKYO) -- Japan's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) carried out an on-the-spot investigation of Microsoft Co., Ltd. of Japan on Jan. 13.

The FTC started the investigation in Japan in the light of the suit against Microsoft Corp. of the United States brought by the U.S. Justice Department regarding the question of tie-in sales of Windows95 and Internet Explorer.

According to a concerned party, the content of the investigation includes not only the problem of the practice of the combined supply of Windows95 and Internet Explorer, but the question of preinstallation of Microsoft Word and Excel in personal computers equipped with Windows95. The FTC appears to be investigating whether or not preinstalled competing products of other companies were excluded.

"We are fully confident that there has not been any illegal action (on our part)," a Microsoft spokesman in Japan said. He added that the company's policy is to cooperate fully with the investigation.

On the same day, the FTC began on-the-spot investigation of personal computers including NEC Corp., Fujitsu Ltd., Toshiba Corp. and IBM Japan Ltd. The content of the investigation of these companies is that the FTC requested the companies to cooperate in the investigation of Microsoft Japan for possible violations of the Antitrust Law, an NEC source said.

Also, according to a concerned party, personal computer makers were requested to submit documents related to transactions with Microsoft Japan.

(Hi-Tech News Center)