Sun fined $291,000 for selling computers to China

THE US COMMERCE DEPARTMENT has slapped a $291,000 fine on Sun Microsystems after the company was found to have exported its technology to China.

The allegation is that Sun Micro illegally exported computers which China then used for military purposes.

But Sun, while it's going to pay up, insists that it neither denies nor admits any wrongdoing.

The Commerce Department alleges that Sun sold an E5000 server to China without the proper licence back in 1997.

It was shipped to Hong Kong, but ended up in communist China, the Commerce Dept alleges.

There's other allegations that Sun sold other kit to countries without the correct licences.

According to reports, the Commerce Department is stepping up its investigations into violations of export licences. µ