Fair Trade Commission approving Microsoft administrative settlement

    Through the investigation over the past five months, the Fair Trade Commission still failed to ascertain whether Microsoft Taiwan violates the Fair Trade Law owing to some relevant facts and legal relations.  In order to fulfill the administrative end and resolve the dispute effectively, the Fair Trade Commission approved the administrative settlement proposed by Microsoft on October 31, 2002 and also passed three resolutions to the effect that Microsoft shall present a written settlement agreement or undertaking within 30 days and any affiliates of Microsoft to be involved in the negotiation for the settlement shall participate in the negotiation.

     The Fair Trade Commission highlighted that the public interest will be the first priority in the negotiation for concluding the settlement agreement, and the Fair Trade Commission will also take charge in the course of the negotiation.  If necessary, the Fair Trade Commission shall terminate the negotiation at any time and resume the investigation.  The resolutions passed on November 31 are considered as the first step in the negotiation for the settlement.