Microsoft internal email: Netscape was hobbled

Late last week in the Microsoft trial, a series of embarrassing internalemails shows that Microsoft employees knew that it had done Netscape in.When Microsoft spokesperson Greg Shaw asked two other employees how thecompany could show that Netscape wasn't being overly damaged by InternetExplorer, the news was obvious: Microsoft's attempts to kill Netscape wereworking and there was no way to put any other spin on the story.

"What data can we find right away that shows Netscape browser share is stillhealthy?" asked Greg Shaw. "It would help if you could send me some reportsshowing their market share healthy and holding. This is for press purposes."

"All of the analysts have pretty much come to the same conclusion, which isthat (Netscape) share is declining and (Microsoft's) is gaining," repliedWindows product manager Robert Bennett. "I don't want to be proactivelytelling people that (Netscape's) share is doing well--we are winning becausewe have better technology--if we show them maintaining/gaining share then wecontradict that point."

How bad was this revelation? Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson laughed when itwas read aloud in court on Friday.

Another little embarrassment for the software giant: Microsoft lawyerMichael Lacovara entered as evidence an email from Microsoft executive DavidCole entitled "Linux is beating Windows." This email cited sales figuresfrom two west coast computer retailers that showed Linux outselling Windows98 recently. Jackson referred to the document as a "self-serving,out-of-court declaration.