Even though courts have ruled that it illegally monopolized the computer software business, Microsoft Corp.'s chairman, Bill Gates, says he doesn't believe his company's tactics significantly hurt competitors. Gates, ending three days of testimony before a federal judge, warned that penalties sought by nine states still pursuing the antitrust case might force Microsoft to pull its ubiquitous Windows operating system off the market. He said the restrictions would hurt the personal computer market and stop Microsoft innovations.
A federal trial court and an appeals court have found, among other things, that Microsoft acted illegally to keep users from removing its Internet Explorer Web browser from Windows, which contributed significantly to market losses by the company's chief rival browser, Netscape Navigator.
Microsoft broke the law and operated as an illegal monopoly, they ruled.
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