Microsoft takes heat out of RealNetworks row

NEWS Microsoft has offered a fix for the bug which it allegedly causes in RealNetwork's flagship product. In response to accusations that its Windows Media Player disables RealNetworks' G2 product, the company has issued a fix and an analysis outlining the problem. In a letter to Rob Glaser, CEO at Real Networks, Yusef Mehdi, Microsoft's Windows marketing director, claims the problem is caused by a bug in the beta version of RealNetworks' own G2 media player. Mehdi chided Glaser for "bickering" and reminded him that Microsoft engineers have developed a patch to allow the companies' mutual customers to work around the problem. Mehdi said: "It's important to resolve our issues in the marketplace to the benefit of our customers, rather than through government forums and press conferences. The purpose of the letter is to re-emphasise our focus on our customers." The accusation was made at last week's UDS Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Microsoft's business practices. As part of a demonstration to prove unjust business practices, Glaser accused Microsoft of intentionally designing its product to sabotage RealNetworks' streaming code. RealNetworks has yet to respond to the Microsoft's statement.