WASHINGTON -- Microsoft founder Bill Gates took the stand Monday for the first time in his company's antitrust case, testifying the penalties being sought by nine states would undermine software used by millions of Americans.
With his wife, Melinda, in the audience, Gates opened his long-awaited courtroom appearance with a computer-generated slide show. He indicated the Windows operating system would stop functioning if components such as the Microsoft Explorer Web browser are removed as the states have proposed.
A lawyer for the states cited an internal memo in which Gates instructed his employees to stop trying to make sure documents created by Microsoft's Office software would work with rival Web browsers.
IBM tops magazine's corporate citizens list
MINNEAPOLIS -- IBM topped this year's list of companies ranked the best corporate citizens by Business Ethics magazine.
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The Minneapolis-based magazine released its third annual list Monday, based on corporate service to seven stakeholder groups: stockholders, employees, customers, the community, the environment, overseas stakeholders, and women and minorities.
IBM was followed by Hewlett-Packard, Fannie Mae, The St. Paul Cos., and Procter &; Gamble.
"These firms show there are better ways to handle these issues than the ruthless practices that are too often the norm," the magazine said.
Twenty-six firms are making their first appearance on the list of 100, including Bank of America (No. 15), Lucent Technologies (No. 17) and Federal Express (No. 22).
www.business-ethics.com
Micron to buy part of Hynix in $3.8 billion deal
BOISE, Idaho -- Hynix Semiconductor Inc. and Micron Technology Inc. announced a $3.8 billion deal that would make Idaho's Micron the world's largest memory chip maker.
Weekend talks in the United States between Micron and Hynix produced the nonbinding memorandum of understanding between the two international rivals to swap Micron stock for Hynix memory operations.
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Micron and Hynix began negotiations to form a strategic alliance late last year amid falling global chip prices. Talks continued this year as prices rebounded.
