KFTC, soon after receiving lawsuit of $ 460,000 for issuing SSL certificates only to particular OS and IE users faces yet another challenge on the legal front, this time a substantially huge amount lawsuit, into $ 10 million range.

Open Web, with 83 netizens behind had filed a lawsuit against KFTC with damage claim of $ 460,000 on the 24th. But now there is another case coming to KFTC by one of the SSL certificate issuing companies, tens of million dollars range lawsuit, creating controversy.

KTFC, issuing their digital certificates only to Microsoft Internet Explorer users, was subject of heavy criticisms for unfair industry practice and dismissing other domestic CA (Certificate Authority) and certificate issuers; With no solutions insight combined with upcoming release of Windows Vista, making available its WebTrust compliance mainly with a Microsoft OS users, are once again on the center of hot controversy.

And its adding more controversy with another lawsuit brought on by one of the certificate authority. This time, KFTC is facing compensatory damage claim into tens of million dollars.

The accuser yet to make its name publicly known is actively pursuing to file damage/ loss suit against the Korean Administration for years of pushing Active X technology exclusively.

The accuser claims that it had developed SW for leading browser ubiquity (all platforms and cross-browsing) for the industry. However, the strong push of Active X by the administration through KFTC has led its marketing share of mere 2 to 3 percent, claiming substantial loss of possible profits.

Its damage claim amount of $ 10 million is based from estimated annual net loss of 2 million over the past 5 years. This case looks to be particularly interesting because this time the plaintiff is one of the certificate issuers and not like that of recent case where plaintiffs are the 83 netizens.

Mozilla and Apple considered joining the lawsuit against KFTC but withdrew concerns with publicity.

So why is KFTC in so much trouble?

In overseas case, most countries do not issue digital certificates while banking online rather they try to minimize the security breech within the browser.

However, in Denmark all browsers can attain SSL certificates when using its e-transactions. Its commerce registry authenticates and supports Firefox, Epiphany, Galeon, Opera, Mozilla, Safari, IE, Camino and also Mozilla thunderbird e-mail program.

This is possible through running Java applet for all browsers. (Java applet allows ciphering all hardware and software security infrastructure).

Law professor Keechang Kim of Korea University pointed out "The KFTC issues server certificate for web authentication. However, this is method not trustworthy to most major web browsers; it uses the Active X control, a secure channel only open to Internet Explorer browser and no other."

Web users and Netizens heavily condemned the Korean government and KFTC calling them "The great Korean internet nation, who only recognizes IE"

One internet user expressed, "I have not used IE for about 5 years. But in those 5 years have made me feel left out. Even in indirect sense, being the minority in Korea makes life so hard."

There was handful of overseas companies (Mozilla, Apple, Opera and other OS/Browsers) who showed interest in joining the lawsuit against KFTC but backed out due to possible back fire from Koreans.

The Open Web is collecting more supporters and plaintiffs for its second round of case against KFTC. It’s also considering to bring up more charges regarding possible antitrust violations in the already filed civil case.