Microsoft rebuttal reinterprets old E-mail; more memos are released to show context of underdog struggle
Article Abstract:
Microsoft presented a document that accuses the Government's antitrust case against the company as lacking context. The 40-page 'Setting the Record Straight' says the Government is basing its case on limited information from among the 3.3 million pages of E-mail and memos collected by the Justice Department. This latest pretrial move by Microsoft also contains a previously unreleased E-mail message written in Jul 1996 by Chmn William H. Gates regarding Microsoft's business relationship with personal-finance software leader Intuit and America Online. Microsoft says the message illustrates its position as an underdog in the Web browser market, rather than a predator portrayed by the Government. Most of the E-mail message showed an attempt by Gates to sell Intuit CEO Scott Cook on the technological superiority of Microsoft's Internet Explorer to Netscape's Navigator. The Government is focusing on a portion of the message that suggests Microsoft bribed Intuit, according to Microsoft.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1998
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In eighth day, Microsoft trial slows its pace
Article Abstract:
Microsoft's antitrust trial, now in its eighth day, is proceeding slowly and methodically. On Oct 29, 1998, Microsoft lawyer John Warden systematically cross-examined America Online Senior VP David M. Colburn, attempting to show that a Mar 1996 agreement between Microsoft and AOL was neither exclusionary nor illegal. At that time, AOL adopted Microsoft's Internet Explorer as a default Web browser, and the Government says Microsoft proposed the arrangement because it wanted to exclude Netscape from the browser market. The Government had planned to show videotaped testimony from Microsoft Chmn Bill Gates, but Warden's cross-examination took longer than expected, leaving no time to do so. Some of the tape, in which Gates denies being involved in decisions relating to Internet software, has already been shown. The Justice Department says this testimony is contradicted by e-mail written by Gates.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1998
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Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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