[JURIST] Microsoft [corporate website] on Monday appealed a ruling [PDF text] from the South Korean Fair Trade Commission [official website] that the company breached antitrust laws by bundling its Windows operating system with Microsoft programs. In the decision [JURIST report] handed down in December 2005, the Commission ordered Microsoft to pay $33 million and unbundle its media player and messaging service from its Windows software. The ruling bore similarity to a 2004 European Commission antitrust ruling [PDF text; JURIST report] against Microsoft, which imposed a fine of nearly $600 million.

Microsoft has said [press release]that its business practices were "consistent with Korean law and have benefited Korean consumers and the Korean technology industry." Reuters has more.