FAS, Russia’s state anti-monopoly service has dismissed the case against Microsoft, as it found that no antitrust laws related to cutbacks in supply of Windows XP in the Russian federation were violated by the company.

The case was registered for violating Article 10 of the Law on Protection of Competition. FAS Russia suspected that Microsoft violated the antimonopoly legislation by cutting down the supply of its Windows XP to the Russian Federation, and reducing supplies of pre-installed OS for sale in new computers. It was also concerned about the company’s pricing policy for Windows XP OS.

Reportedly, Microsoft provided the proof that it had sold 1.2 million of localised Russian copies of Windows XP in fiscal 2008. The company has also submitted a strategy for phased replacement of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

During the case, Microsoft took the initiative to organise the procedure of free upgrade to Windows Vista Home Basic and Windows Vista Home Premium for Windows XP Home in Russia. This procedure will be implemented within 3 weeks and will last until the end of 2009. Now a similar procedure is available only to owners of Business and Premium versions of Windows Vista preinstalled on a PC.