Microsoft has hit back at the Department of Justice (DOJ), saying its R9.6 million claim is “embarrassing” and “vague”.
The DOJ filed its complaint at the Pretoria High Court, accusing the software business of overcharging the department by as much as R9.6 million for software licences.
Microsoft has confirmed it has received notification of the charges and says it has filed a counter claim with the court.
“Microsoft has filed a 'Notice to Remove Cause of Complaint' in which various complaints have been raised to the minister's 'Particulars of Claim' as they are vague and embarrassing and/or do not contain sufficient averments necessary to sustain an action against Microsoft,” the company explained in a statement this morning.
It is not clear which contract or licences the DOJ is contesting, since a departmental spokesman was not available this morning to comment on the matter. However, it appears the department wants to recover money it feels it is owed.
No court date has been set for the hearing on the issue, and Microsoft says it cannot comment further as the matter is sub judice. “Microsoft is now awaiting a response from the minister to the 'Notice to Remove Cause of Complaint'.”
Microsoft and government have had a traditionally strong relationship. The company has been involved in several government initiatives, including the Africa School Technology Innovation Centre and the e-Googlethu Cape Access Centre, in Cape Town.
However, government has often stated it supports open source software and is in the process of migrating several departments to open source solutions.
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