Lobbying Could Cause Legal Trouble for Microsoft

Posted by Zonk on Friday August 31, 2007 @09:00AM from the keep-it-above-board-maybe dept.

Rob Isn't Weird writes "In the wake of the exposure of Microsoft's attempt to buy Sweden's vote on OOXML and Sweden's annulment of that vote due to irregularities, IBM's Rob Weir points out that the fiasco could cause anti-trust worries for Microsoft. He quotes ALLIED TUBE & CONDUIT CORP. v. INDIAN HEAD, INC., 486 U.S. 492 (1988), which says 'What petitioner may not do (without exposing itself to possible antitrust liability for direct injuries) is bias the process by, as in this case, stacking the private standard-setting body with decision makers sharing their economic interest in restraining competition.'"

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Re:Isn't it a bit presumptuous... by vidarh · 2007-08-31 09:50 · Score: 5, Insightful

It's not a "swedish case". Its about how a US corporation or its subsidiaries behavior in Sweden might make it liable under US anti-trust laws in the US because the actions in Sweden might be aimed at affecting the competitive landscape in the US to.
It's clearly for US courts to decide if a US corporation affects the US competitive landscape.