France, out of national pride, is discussing making its entire public school system open-source rather than relying on American software.

Not to mention overhauls of American software gone too soft.

They have said they may also commit to purchases of American software for government computers.

Microsoft has been increasingly wooing foreign governments because the international market is now the main battleground for American software and technology companies.

A $60 million effort to end the reliance on American software and processors has been embraced by some of the biggest names in Japanese electronics.

It is our oldest suppliers, the biggest American software companies, that are not making the effort to expand in Japan.

About half the company's revenues from distribution come from American software, Mr. Son said.

They are worried about the unique American software, designed to regulate the whole system, being undermined by people who have no real respect for it.

The firm has scored a hit in adapting to its own computer a set of American software called Unix.

Many more arguments are expected this year over the treatment of dissidents and the piracy of American software, music and movies.