Microsoft has finally won a competition case - albeit a civil case brought in South Korea by two rival software providers.

Digito.com was seeking $23.9m in damages and Sanview Technology wanted about a third of that. The two companies accused Microsoft of damaging their businesses by bundling instant messenger and Windows Media Services - its media streaming server software - with its operating system.

The Seoul District Court in South Korea accepted that Microsoft's behaviour broke South Korean competition law, but said the companies had not provided evidence that their losses were Microsoft's fault, according to AP.

Sanview told the newswire it would appeal the ruling.

Korean regulators found Microsoft guilty of anti-competitive behaviour over its bundling strategy in 2006. It agreed to pay a fine and offer versions of Windows which offered links to alternative messenger services. ®