The legal saga continues ...

Anti-Trust Case coverage

Well, now it's Microsoft's turn to put it's case the Judge in the AntiTrust case. So far however their witnesses have been putty in the hands of the Government lawyer David Boies.

After Boies virtually discredited the first of Microsoft's two witnesses, Microsoft then handed the Government an enormous faux pas to hit them back with.

MS fluffed it badly when they attempted to show videotape supporting their claim that Explorer cannot be removed from Windows 98 without degrading the system. The Governments' David Boies pounced on discrepancies in the video tape that indicated the tape had been "edited", and when Microsoft won court permission to re-do the tape, they admitted they were unable to reproduce their claims.

Amidst this farce, the Government's David Boies asked Microsoft Senior Vice President James E Allchin if he realized it mattered that he told the truth in court? Allchin vouched numerous times for the accuracy and validity of the videotape, only to have to admit that it appeared to be the "wrong system" that had been taped, then later contradicting himself again claiming it was the right machine. Sufficient irregularities in the tape were pointed out by Boies that the judge granted MS their request to re-do the tape, which they were later forced to admit they were unable to do.

Keep tuned in to Yahoo's AntiTrust Court Case coverage - it makes for very interesting reading!

Windows refund day

Feb 15th 1999 over 2800 disgruntled PC users will be returning their unused Windows Operating Systems to Microsoft for their refund - at least that's what the Microsoft End User License Agreement (EULA) promises - but will it deliver?

• The Refund Centre - http://www.LinuxMall.com/refund/
• The Redmond Tea Party - http://www.vcnet.com/bms/features/teaparty.shtml

It may be too late for Australians now though - word is that Microsoft have quietly removed the refund offer EULA on copies of 98 available in Australia. Consumer protection legislation in the US require the option be available for US customers. Australian's however may have no such protection. See the story in Industry News, 22nd Jan 1999, John Fairfax Holdings Ltd.

Further Reading:

Previous MSFiles

• Behind the Microsoft phenomena.
• Microsoft in court - the antitrust case.

The Anti-Trust Case

• Regular daily coverage of the Antitrust Court Case from Yahoo.
• The US Department of Justice United States v. Microsoft (Trial) Direct Testimony