Computerworld New Zealand
Microsoft NZ may come under fire as the result of a complaint laid against it by Auckland firm Infraserv alleging
anti-competitive behaviour.
In a news article published today Computerworld New Zealand reports that Infraserv, the operations arm of law firm
Clendon Feeney, laid the complaint last week. The complaint asks the commission to investigate Microsoft on the grounds
that its conduct demonstrates a major market problem and disregards New Zealand law (the Fair Trading Act and Commerce
Act), and that the case is important to the national interest in competition in trade.
The complaint was spurred by Microsoft's changes to its licensing model and the introduction of a licensing programme
called Software Assurance. Software Assuarance requires customers to pay two years in advance for the right to any
Microsoft software upgrades. This is regardless of whether or not Microsoft releases any upgrade within those two years.
"Locking a customer into a two-year guaranteed income stream is much better than being reliant on customers deciding
that an upgrade is good value before they spend their money. Being paid and not having to deliver anything is even
better," says Clendon Feeney partner Craig Horrocks.
"What other supplier in the world, other than possibly government through taxation, can ask you to pay for somethiing
which is not defined and if nothing is delivered still claims you receive a benefit?"
For the full story go to computerworld.co.nz