A South Korean court ruled US software giant Microsoft breached its fair competition rules but has chucked out claims from two companies that it owes them money for its antics.
Digito.Com and Sanview Technology filed suits demanding $40 million. They insisted Microsoft had caused them financial damage by packaging its instant messenger programme and Windows Media Service with the main operating system.

Seoul District Court said that while Microsoft had violated anti-trust regulations by abusing its market dominance it was not prepared to give the two companies any cash. The plaintiffs lost market share either by lack of price competitiveness or overseas business failure and could not prove that the loss was linked to Microsoft. Microsoft welcomed the court's ruling that its actions did not cause any damage to the plaintiffs.

However the company has already paid a large fine to the South Korean Fair Trade Commission for its anti-trust antics.