The Net Consumers Association and the Consumers Foundation, Chinese Taipei, yesterday jointly proposed that a public hearing be held before the Fair Trade Com-mission decides on whether to reach an administrative settlement with Microsoft regarding its trade practices in Taiwan.
Net Consumers Association president Lin Shih-hua (林世華) said that public interest should take priority when the commission makes its ruling. He said that the investigation on Microsoft's trade policy must not be diverted by discussions of possible technology transfer by the corporation.
While Microsoft claims that its products are sold at unified prices around the globe, Lin suggested that the corporation sets its prices in accordance with per capita incomes of various countries.
Lin said that a check on the Web site Amazon.com reveals that Microsoft products are sold cheaper over the Internet than in Taiwan.
Together with the Consumers Foundation, the Net Consumers Association called on Microsoft to lower its prices and not to force package sales of its products.
The Fair Trade Commission is expected to complete its investigation on Microsoft trade practices by the end of this month and make a decision on the matter next month.
A spokesman for the commission said that Microsoft has submitted an application for an administrative settlement of the issue. The commissioners must first agree on the application before allowing Microsoft to put forth its proposals.
Over the past few days, senior Microsoft executives have called on Vice President Annette Lu (
Microsoft Group vice president Orlando Ayala announced on Wed-nesday that Microsoft plans to set up a technology center in Taiwan, in addition to microsoft.net cooperation projects with some local universities.
A Microsoft spokesman rebuffed speculation that it is trying to influence the decision of the trade commission, saying the meetings and cooperation projects have nothing to do with the investigation.
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