Japan Investigating Microsoft Business Practices

s Microsoft attorneys faced off with the U.S. Department of Justice today in Washington, the company confirmed that Japan also has opened a probe of its business practices.

Investigators from Japan's Fair Trade Commission reviewed documents at Microsoft offices in Japan, according to a company statement. The statement did not specify when the search occurred or what, if anything, was taken. Microsoft officials were unavailable for comment.

The Japanese investigation involves questions regarding not only bundling of Microsoft's Internet Explorer with Windows 95, the focu s of the U.S. investigation, but also bundling of a word processor and spreadsheet on new PCs in Japan. Microsoft's statement says the company bundled the applications to compete with a similar bundle offered by Japan's largest packaged software company, Just Systems.

// Stuart J. Johnston

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