Direct line
Our ref
Your ref
Date
COMMERCIAL-IN-CONFIDENCE
Mr E Whitehorn
Head, CP5
Office of Fair Trading
Field House
Breams Buildings
London
EC4A 1PR
071-215 5742
NL 4/07
7th December 1993
Dear Mr. Whitehorn,
US ANTI-TRUST NOTIFICATION
INDEX
HVBRILO
08 FEE 1994
HAB
121/10
Department of Trade and Industry
Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street London SW1E 6RB
Enquiries
071-215 5000
Telex 8813148 DIHQ G
071-828 3258
I attach a notification from the US Embassy made in accordance with the 1986 OECD recommendation on notification of restrictive business practices investigations. This gives notice of an investigation by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice into allegations of monopolisation and restraint of trade made against Microsoft Corporation of Washington State.
This notification is a little unusual, since there is no direct connection to the UK. The DOJ has, however, raised the possibility that it might seek voluntary evidence from VTECH, a company incorporated in Hong Kong. Although it is not specifically stated, we have assumed that the company is a third party competitor to the company under investigation. There is no suggestion of any investigation of VTECH itself. We have presumably been notified of the DOJ investigation because of the UK's responsibility for Hong Kong's external relations.
On the basis of the above assumption, we can foresee no difficulties with this case. I would welcome, however, by close of play on Friday 10th December please, any comments that you or Dr Grenfell may have on any aspects of the case. If I have not received any replies by then, I will assume that there are no comments.
dti
the department for Enterprise
Recycled Paper
8
888-388