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Gates testifies in U.S. suit
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August 28, 1998: 12:03 p.m. ET
Microsoft chairman begins giving depositions in landmark antitrust suit
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates began giving depositions to federal regulators as the government moves forward with its sweeping antitrust suit against the software giant.
Government attorneys questioned Gates under oath Thursday at Microsoft's Redmond, Wash., headquarters, according to one of the 20 state attorneys general that joined the Justice Department's antitrust suit.
Both Justice Department and Microsoft officials declined to comment on whether Gates will give additional testimony, although U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson has said the government can take as much time as necessary to complete the process. Microsoft previously said it wanted to limit Gates' deposition to one day.
Gates' testimony comes amid several reports detailing the government's case against Microsoft. Federal regulators are paying particularly close attention to internal memos and e-mail messages.
On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported Microsoft engineers discussed in 1991 a plan to hide software bugs in an early version of Microsoft Windows to trip up competing operating systems. E-mail messages allegedly describing that plan could find their way into the government's case.
Previously, CNNfn confirmed that the government had asked several Intel Corp. executives if Microsoft executives tried to intimidate the chip maker into keeping its technology "Microsoft friendly."
Gates' testimony was scheduled to begin earlier this month, but Jackson postponed the proceedings until ground rules were established for public access to his testimony. A federal appeals court, however, later issued a stay of Jackson's order, allowing Gates to give his deposition privately.
The trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 23.
Microsoft (MSFT) shares sank 4-5/16 to 104-15/16 in late-morning trading. 
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