Gates article contradicts MS lawyers – again

MS on Trial As heartlessly and repeatedly predicted here, Bill Gates' public pronouncements are being turned against Microsoft by the DoJ in the resumed antitrust trial. Among yesterday's little Gates-related problems were a Newsweek article that seemed to rubbish appliances as competition for PCs, while Gates' claims of the sophistication of Microsoft's accounts systems are also rearing their head. DoJ attorney David Boies commented that Gates was saying one thing while his lawyers were dsaying another. The first government witness of this phase, Franklin Fisher, told the court he didn't think Microsoft was threatened by new devices, and "neither does Bill Gates." Gates himself had said in Newsweek Gates said PCs would continue to succeed, working "in tandem with other cool devices," and that he was "betting Microsoft's future" on this. Microsoft attorney Michael Lacovara said: "Isn't this exactly what you'd expect Mr. Gates to say, given his company's business?" He didn't comment on whether or not he was right, however. And asked about Microsoft's famous accounts systems, described by Microsoft witness Richard Schmalensee as being kept on bits of paper, and as being tracked digitally in detail in Gates' book, Boies said: "I believe Gates, this time." ® Complete Register trial coverage