[Am-info] Third witness against Microsost - Reuters

[Gene Gaines]

See:
http://dailynews.netscape.com/mynsnews/story.tmpl?table=n&cat=50380&id=200203201715000266507

Here are some choice bits:

RealNetworks Says Targeted by Microsoft as Threat

Wednesday, March 20, 2002
                                                     
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Internet video and audio pioneer
RealNetworks Inc. (RNWK.O) accused Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O) in
court on Wednesday of seeking to restrict its products because
they posed a threat to the software giant's Windows operating
system monopoly.

 ... (and this later in article) ...

RealNetworks alleges Microsoft withheld technical data from
RealNetworks to ensure that RealNetworks' audio and video player
would not work as well with Microsoft's Windows operating system
as the Windows Media Player.

... (and) ...
                  
Richards said that in August of last year Microsoft Vice President
Jim Allchin informed RealNetworks that Microsoft believed its own
rival product, called Windows Media Player, was part of the
Windows operating system and RealNetworks was therefore a platform
competitor.

"I do not think there is any question that Microsoft has sought,
and continues to seek, to restrict the distribution, promotion,
use and interpretability of RealNetworks," Richards wrote.

Windows XP contains a function, Richards said, that allows users
of Windows Media Player to easily copy songs on to a compact disc
and search their files for a song. But Microsoft's tactics
prevented RealNetworks' media player from offering the same
functions, he said.

Microsoft attorney Richard Pepperman spent the afternoon
questioning Richards, looking to undermine RealNetworks claim to
be the victim.

Gene Gaines
gene.gaines@gainesgroup.com
Sterling, Virginia