Microsoft "Reveals" Apple's QuickTime "Error"
[1:28 PM] Microsoft has issued a press release today in which they claim to prove that the error messages relating to QuickTime use on Windows was nothing more than "programming errors" on the part of Apple and not some form of malicious sabotage as alleged by Avie Tevanian. The press release points to supposed independent testing [Editor's Note: The web site for the independent tests were unavailable at press time.] that confirmed their assertions. According to the Redmond, Wa. company, which is currently on trial for alleged anti-competitive behavior in a landmark antitrust trial, the problem stems from Apple's failure to properly implement the Netscape Plug-In architecture. The company also raised the ante a bit in the public relation war with Apple by saying:

"Though it is clearly not Microsoft's responsibility to provide fixes to another vendor's product, we decided to offer the fix to customers because we feel they should not pay the price for Apple's programming mistakes, groundless allegations and courtroom antics," Nielsen said. "Hopefully, Apple will also make a fix available for their customers, as well as correct the mistake in the next version of QuickTime."

Microsoft said it would be entering into evidence the test results later in the trial. Apple has not officially responded to Microsoft's latest salvo.

The Mac Observer Spin: Whether or not the problems stem from errors on Apple's part or sabotage on Microsoft's part, the war of the words has just taken a giant leap forward. it is important for the DOJ to show that Microsoft would have deliberately placed code in Windows to hurt Apple's foray into the Window's multimedia playback market because it helps show a pattern of anti-competitive behavior. This is not the first time Microsoft has been accused of this type of practice (DRDOS and RealAudio being the most prominent) and so they are pulling out the stops to try and pin the QuickTime issues on Apple. Whether or not they are successful will be determined over the course of the next few weeks.

So far Microsoft has gone to great pains to separate their criticism of Avie Tevanian's testimony from criticism of Apple itself. Today's press release marks a new turn from just last week however. The company used terms like "shoot-from-the-hip" and "courtroom antics" to describe both Apple and Mr. Tevanian. A daring accusation indeed, coming from Microsoft.

"Apple's shoot-from- the-hip allegations and their decision to blame their own development mistakes on Microsoft in a court of law is not only wrong, but is harmful to the entire software industry, and more importantly it's harmful to our mutual customers."

High stakes behavior for what is arguably the highest-stake game in the history the world.