Ballmer's iPod slur memory lapse

Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's outspoken CEO, has responded to fierce criticism of his recent comments about users of the Apple iPod which he made to an exclusive group of UK journalists in London.

Speaking on Sunday evening, the Microsoft boss said the most common format of music on an iPod "stolen". Cue a barrage of reader comments from iPod users clearing their names and insisting much or all of their music comes from legitimate means - such as ripping it from CDs they already own, or buying it online via the massively popular iTunes service. Many saw it as the latest cheap shot across the bows of Microsoft's long term rival Apple.

The story got picked up on a number of Mac sites and geek news portal Slashdot.org and within hours had gone truly stellar. Within 24 hours, Ballmer's words were coming back to haunt him.

On the Dutch leg of his European tour he was asked to explain those views, as expressed in the silicon.com story. It was a question he had perhaps been expecting and was obviously aware of the backlash his words had evoked. However, his exact remarks had clearly, conveniently slipped his mind.

"I don't know what I said exactly, but it was bad," said Ballmer, drawing out the last word - "baaaaaad" - for added emphasis, according to Lars Pasveer, a journalist from ZDNet Netherlands.

Just how "bad" it was can be seen from the nature of the reader comments - a record number - posted in reaction to the story.

One reader wrote: "Such a shame Ballmer has to resort to such stabs at Apple. 'Stolen music' indeed. Yes, all those iPod owners with their fair use encodes of the actual CDs that they own, and their purchases of music from iTunes. Where exactly are his figures showing that most of the music on iPods is stolen anyway?"

"While I'm sure there are music thieves using every brand of portable music player, as an iPod owner and one who only has legally purchased the music on it, I take offence at Ballmer's comments and find them childish," wrote another, adding that it was "a poorly thought-out dig at the iPod's success".

Others took a more sardonic view. "Nice bit of promotion that, if you want people to buy your hardware instead of an iPod, insult the customer and brand him a thief," wrote another reader.