Microsoft News Tracker

As if Microsoft didn’t already have enough antitrust headaches already, today a South Korean court denied Microsoft’s request for a stay of antitrust penalties there. From the AP:

A court on Tuesday turned down Microsoft Corp.’s request for a stay of sanctions imposed by South Korea’s fair trade regulator, the software company said.

Microsoft had asked the Seoul High Court to allow the stay of penalties while the company lodges a legal challenge to the Korea Fair Trade Commission ruling ordering it to provide two separate versions of Windows from Aug. 24.

“Consistent with the court’s decision, Microsoft will, in a timely manner, comply with the KFTC’s order,” the Redmond, Wash.-based company said.

I guess that puts an end to speculation that Microsoft might pull Windows XP from the Korean market rather than create the versions demanded by the KFTC. Microsoft had earlier lost a separate appeal directly to the KFTC. Next step (aside from complying with the KFTC ruling):

Microsoft is pursuing an appeal to the KFTC’s ruling in the Seoul High Court. That is unaffected by Tuesday’s decision regarding the stay request.

In the statement, Microsoft said that it “will continue to defend its position in the case through the appeal process.”