Microsoft Depositions Are Released

The federal judge overseeing the Microsoft Corp. antitrust case agreed Monday to make public the transcripts and videotapes of depositions taken recently from Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and several other major figures in the case.

The transcripts and tapes may provide a preview of the testimony at hearings scheduled to begin March 11 on sanctions that could be imposed on Microsoft for antitrust violations, according to Howard University law professor Andrew Gavil.

“To the extent these witnesses reappear at trial, you’ll have a little bit more time to anticipate what they say,” Gavil said.

The judge, Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of U.S. District Court, granted requests from eight newspapers including Los Angeles Times and news services for access to transcripts of interviews with Ballmer; Microsoft executive James Allchin; former Netscape Communications Corp. Chairman James Barksdale; and Liberate Technologies Inc. Chairman Mitchell Kertzman.

Kollar-Kotelly, who denied sweeping access to all the interviews in the case, also granted access to the transcripts of any interviews that may be given by Sun Microsystems Inc. Chairman Scott McNealy. But a Microsoft spokesman said the company has no plans to interview McNealy.

Microsoft reached a settlement in November with the Justice Department and nine of the states originally in the case.

But nine other states’ attorneys general are seeking stronger sanctions against Microsoft to prevent future violations of antitrust law and have named witnesses for hearings.

Also Monday, Microsoft, which is trying to counter criticism from rivals that it bullies other companies, said Linda Stone resigned two years after being promoted to vice president in charge of changing the biggest software maker’s corporate culture.

Stone, 47, plans to leave on March 15 to write a book on the way people interact with technology, company spokeswoman Nicole Miller said.

Stone reported to Ballmer, who directed her in May 2000 to meet with customers, partners and rivals to see how Microsoft could improve relations with them.

Microsoft’s vice president for corporate and industry initiatives was appointed after companies, including Apple Computer Inc. and America Online Inc.--now AOL Time Warner Inc.--testified at the company’s antitrust trial that it had engaged in predatory conduct.