Gates in the dark over Java

Video evidence shown yesterday at the Microsoft antitrust trial features Bill Gates claiming ignorance of Sun Microsystems' lawsuit against his company.

The US Department of Justice is continuing to try and prove both that Microsoft has a monopoly of the operating systems market and has abused that position. The tape was shown before Microsoft lawyers cross-examined James Gosling, the Sun vice president who created Java.

When Gates was asked if he was familiar with Sun's civil case claiming Microsoft had infringed its Java licence, he waited 30 seconds before replying "not really". According to US reports, at one point, the court bailiff had to ask spectators to stop giggling after Gates was asked a question relating to the distribution of Java five times without offering a satisfactory answer.

Gates appeared generally unconcerned about Sun, but did admit that Java could evolve into a threat for the company in the future. This mild reply contrasts with Gates' admission in an internal Microsoft email that "Java scares the hell out of me."