[June 30, 2011] Microsoft spent $1.7 million lobbying in 1Q Tweet (Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) WASHINGTON -- Microsoft Corp. spent $1.7 million in the third quarter to lobby the federal government on issues such as cyber security, the online streaming of copyrighted works and competition in online advertising, according to a disclosure report. That's about the same as what it spent in the fourth quarter and the first quarter of last year. In the January-March period, Microsoft lobbied Congress, the Commerce Department, the Defense Department, the Department of Homeland Security and a slew of other government agencies about the protection of critical infrastructure, licensing, competition and government procurement of software, issues related to health care reform and related information technology concerns and other matters. Microsoft has a health care technology division whose products help hospitals integrate data from different sources to get a complete picture of a patient's medical history and care, and an online system that lets consumers store their own medical information. Microsoft also lobbied Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and other agencies about policy issues on "cloud computing" (storing data and software on remote servers and accessing them online), software piracy and counterfeiting and online copyright enforcement. The company also lobbied on foreign and domestic trade, including the European Commission's investigation into competition in the software industry. Microsoft has complained to European regulators that Google abuses its dominance in online search and advertising. For example Microsoft contends that Google makes it hard for Windows mobile phones to access its YouTube video site. Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft also lobbied Congress, the State Department and others about piracy and other issues it faces in China including human rights, market access and indigenous innovation policy, according to the report filed April 20 with the House clerk's office. (c) 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]