|
Profs 1, Microsoft 0 (10/11/98)
|
 
|
| | |
Remember how Microsoft had subpoenaed a couple of MIT and Harvard professors for some confidential tapes? Professors Michael Cusumano and David Yoffie are the co-authors of a new book, Competing on Internet Time: Lessons from Netscape and Its Battle with Microsoft, which is due to be published this week. As part of their research for the book, the two professors conducted confidential interviews with several high-ranking Netscape officials (including head guy Jim Barksdale). Microsoft decided that those confidential tapes would be invaluable in their struggle against the Department of Justice, and so they set out to get their hands on them.
Luckily, according to a Netly News article, Microsoft's demand for access to the tapes has been denied by a federal judge. And when we say "luckily," we're not saying that because we want Microsoft to lose. Don't get us wrong-- despite the fact that Microsoft is supposedly a big buddy of Apple these days, there's no love lost between AtAT and the Redmond Giant. But the real danger of granting Microsoft access to those confidential tapes would be the effect it would have on future corporate research. As the professors' lawyer argued, surrendering the tapes would be devastating to future research, because corporate officials "would be less likely to participate" if they knew their "confidential" words could be used against them by a competitor in a court of law.
Anyway, the judge decided to keep the tapes confidential because Microsoft's arguments were "based on the fundamental premise that a witness in a civil case will lie--" a premise that the judge simply couldn't accept, as it pretty much negates the whole basis of our court system. Hmmm... Where do you suppose Microsoft got the idea that a witness on the stand in a case like this is definitely going to lie? Maybe it's time to break out the polygraphs...
| |
| |
 |
SceneLink (1069)
|  |
 |
|
And Now For A Word From Our Sponsors |
| | | |
|
| |
|
 | | The above scene was taken from the 10/11/98 episode: October 11, 1998: Apple prepares to discuss its fourth consecutive profitable quarter on Wednesday, as it also readies Mac OS 8.5 and iMac buyer data. Meanwhile, rising star Avie Tevanian gets his big break by landing a role in "Redmond Justice," and Microsoft loses its bid to squeeze a couple of college professors for their confidential interviews with Netscape...
Other scenes from that episode: 1067: It's An Event (10/11/98) Most of you are aware that Apple's due to announce its fourth quarter financial results this Wednesday. (Have you registered your guess yet in the Beat the Analysts contest? The clock's a-tickin'!)... 1068: Ready for Prime Time (10/11/98) Sometimes we at AtAT feel that the spotlight at Apple is being hogged by Steve Jobs, when there are plenty of others who keep the company afloat and thriving who don't get quite enough recognition. Take, for example, money dude Fred Anderson, who works in the wings to keep the company in the black...
Or view the entire episode as originally broadcast... | |  |
|
|
