Microsoft said tonight it was cooperating with a new US Justice Department antitrust probe of Microsoft over its investment in Canadian software maker Corel.
"There was a request for information from the Department of Justice on a transaction with Corel," company spokesman Jim Cullinan said after the Wall Street Journalreported that a new probe had been opened.
"We are fully cooperating to provide them with the information they need and we believe there are no legal issues in our transaction with Corel that would raise concerns, but we look forward to providing the information to the government."
The Journal reported that Microsoft had been subpoenaed by officials to obtain documents about the 135 million dollar investment in Corel, which is known for its WordPerfect and CorelDRAW programs that compete with Microsoft products.
Authorities are seeking to determine whether the move may pose antitrust concerns over office software packages, a market in which Microsoft holds a 90 percent stake with Microsoft Office, the daily said.
The Justice Department is also conducting a routine review of Microsoft's acquisition of Great Plains Software, saying it may pose fewer concerns because there is little overlap with Microsoft products in the business accounting software field.
Some observers suggest the new administration of George W. Bush may take a different approach that that of Bill Clinton, which successfully brought an antitrust case against Microsoft that is now being appealed.
AFP