China Antitrust Regulator Conducts New Raids on Microsoft and Accenture

Advertisement
By Reuters | Updated: 6 August 2014 15:46 IST
A Chinese antitrust regulator conducted new raids on Microsoft Corp and partner in China Accenture PLC, the agency said on its website on Wednesday, after saying last week Microsoft is under investigation for anti-trust violations.

The State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) raided offices in Beijing, Liaoning, Fujian and Hubei, it said. The SAIC also raided the Dalian offices of IT consultancy Accenture, to whom Microsoft outsources financial work, according to the regulator.

Microsoft and Accenture declined to provide immediate comment.

Last week, the SAIC said it was formally investigating Microsoft for breach of antitrust rules and had raided four of the software firm's offices in China.

Advertisement

Microsoft has been suspected of violating China's anti-monopoly law since June last year in relation to problems with compatibility, bundling and document authentication for its Windows operating system and Microsoft Office software, the SAIC said last week.

Advertisement

Microsoft Deputy General Counsel Mary Snapp was in Beijing to meet with the SAIC on Monday, where the regulator warned Microsoft to not obstruct the probe.

But industry experts have questioned how exactly Microsoft is violating antitrust regulations in China, where the size of its business is negligible.

Advertisement

The US company has taken a public beating in China in recent months. It has been subject to wider scrutiny against US technology firms in China in the wake of former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden's cyber-espionage revelations.

It has also seen service for its OneDrive cloud storage service disrupted in China, and had its latest Windows 8 operating system banned from being installed on the central government's new computers.

Advertisement

The Microsoft investigation comes amidst a spate of antitrust probes against foreign firms in China, including mobile chipset maker Qualcomm Inc and German car maker Daimler AG's luxury auto unit Mercedes-Benz.

China is intensifying efforts to bring companies into compliance with an anti-monopoly law enacted in 2008, having in recent years taken aim at industries as varied as milk powder and jewellery.

In recent months, regulators have ramped up probes in industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to electronics. A number of multinational companies including Mead Johnson Nutrition Co and Danone SA have been slapped with substantial fines following similar investigations in the past.

China on Wednesday said it will punish foreign car makers Audi, owned by Volkswagen, and Fiat SpA's Chrysler as well as some 10 Japanese spare-part makers for antitrust violations.

© Thomson Reuters 2014

 

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2026 hub.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. CNAP vs Truecaller: Which Is Better at Identifying Spam Calls?
  2. Quantum Haloscope Sharpens the Search for Dark Matter Axions at Higher Frequencies
  1. Quantum Haloscope Sharpens the Search for Dark Matter Axions at Higher Frequencies
  2. Rare Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Fails Alien Test, Scientists Say
  3. CNAP vs Truecaller: How India’s Official Caller ID System Differs From the Popular App
  4. Prayagraj Ki Love Story Set to Stream Soon on Hungama OTT
  5. Mask OTT Release Date: When and Where to Watch This Action-Packed Thriller Online?
  6. New Year 2026 Custom Greetings: 5 Best AI Prompts for ChatGPT, Gemini, and Other AI Tools
  7. NASA’s Chandra Spots Champagne Cluster Formed by a Massive Galaxy Collision
  8. NASA’s Curiosity Rover Sends Stunning Sunrise-and-Sunset Holiday Postcard from Mars
  9. Oppo Find X9s Key Specifications Leaked Again; Might Also Launch in India
  10. Redmi Turbo 5, Redmi Turbo 5 Pro to Be Equipped With Upcoming MediaTek Dimensity Chips, Tipster Claims
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.