Microsoft faces FTC probe in Taiwan over Vista

[Dalo Harkin]

Many people and businesses have been upset by how Microsoft deployed Windows Vista and has treated Windows XP since. The strongest form of protest for most of them was simply choosing not to use Windows Vista, such as when Intel decided to skip and wait for Windows 7. That's fair enough, but some have taken it much farther. Microsoft is finding out first hand that some people are considering to make it a legal issue, which seems ridiculous.

 

In Taiwan, Microsoft is facing the Fair Trade Commission due to complaints filed against them regarding Windows Vista. In short, people feel they have been forced to buy Vista, due to Microsoft ceasing sales of Windows XP this year. The Taiwan FTC is now going to probe the company's actions in Taiwan, to see if ceasing Windows XP sales is truly “forcing” people to migrate to Vista.

 

Microsoft could face penalties if that is indeed the finding of the FTC, though nowhere near as high as has been levied on them in other countries for other practices. Even though Microsoft's handling of Vista could have gone better and it is obvious they’d want to strong-arm people into using it, there's truly no "forcing" occurring at any point. Microsoft has proven themselves willing to still divvy out Windows XP licenses (if reluctantly) even today.