Gates Takes Stand for Microsoft Next Week
Reuters | at | by Mike
Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates will appear in federal court on Monday to testify against the antitrust sanctions sought by nine states still pursuing the landmark case against the software giant. The decision to put Gates on the witness stand marks a reversal from Microsoft's original trial, when he did not appear in person but was seen in unflattering portions of a videotaped pre-trial interview played by government lawyers.
Gates "will speak to the potential harm to consumers and the industry posed by the non-settling states' remedy proposals," Microsoft said in a statement on Friday. More specifically, Gates will tell the judge that the stricter sanctions would hobble collaboration in the computer industry, according to a company spokesman.