Gates sits under the glaring light of deposition

Microsoft CEO Bill Gates began his first day of questioning Thursday as thedepositions of key Microsoft executives began at the company's Redmondcampus. Attorneys for the State of New York are representing all of the states suing Microsoft for its alleged anti-competitive practices duringthe questioning. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will also questionGates separately.

The session, which was videotaped, could have turned into a media circushad the Appellate Court upheld a decision by Judge Thomas Penfield Jacksonthat would have allowed the press to attend. The Court decided that such aviewing could jeopardize Microsoft's trade secrets, so the videotaping willallow future viewing by the press with any mention of these secrets removed.

In the coming weeks, over two dozen other Microsoft executives, includingpresident Steve Ballmer, will be deposed. The trial is set to begin onSeptember 23