Novell has now filed its reply brief [PDF] with the US Court of Appeals for the 10th District. Here's Microsoft's brief and Novell's opening brief in its appeal in the WordPerfect antitrust case against Microsoft. Novell's arguments are clear and powerful.
"A reasonable
jury could find that Microsoft's conduct was anticompetitive because it harmed
Novell, was not competition on the merits, and was reasonably capable of
contributing significantly to maintaining Microsoft's monopoly power in the
operating systems market," Novell writes. Nowhere, it says, does Microsoft defend Microsoft's conduct as competition on the merits. And Microsoft's brief neglected to mention to the appeals court, or respond to, the District Court's conclusion that a jury could have found Microsoft's justifications for its conduct "to be pretextual." Worse, Microsoft is asking the appeals court to confer immunity on it "for deception of competitors regardless of the effect on competition."
By withdrawing its support for namespace extension APIs, Microsoft destroyed Novell's economic viability, and it did it on purpose to harm a competitor. The Bill Gates email [PDF] proves it, they believe. The whole point of documenting APIs and releasing betas is to induce reliance, so Microsoft can't credibly argue that it didn't know this change on its part would impact Novell negatively. And again, as in Novell's opening brief (p. 38, footnote 5), Novell references Microsoft using a "deceptive script" which it says is mentioned in the email thread in which a Microsoft employee reported to his company that WordPerfect appeared to be "OK" with the change. Novell says was used to justify the change and persuade companies like Novell that Microsoft had to make the change. (Cf. this Groklaw article and this email thread [PDF] for context.) I'm sure we'll hear more about this at oral argument. So if you attend the event, and I know some of you are trying to make arrangements to attend, please watch for this in particular. And then Novell says Microsoft ignored a great deal of the evidence that favors Novell, and so did the District Court, but the applicable standard for summary judgment under Rule 50 is that the court was required to view the evidence in the light most favorable to Novell, which it failed to do. Microsoft also ignored evidence that its conduct harmed competition in the operating systems market, including evidence from binding Findings of Fact from the US v. Microsoft case, and the testimony and statements of Microsoft executives (cf. Groklaw). And finally, Microsoft disregarded applicable substantive law, Novell argues.
What did Microsoft fail to acknowledge? Here's Novell's list:
- Evidence that Microsoft knew Novell was using the namespace extension
APIs, including an email to Bill Gates identifying WordPerfect as using
them (infra pp. 8-11);
- The deceptive script that Microsoft used to provide Novell and other
ISVs with false justifications for its decision to de-document the
namespace extension APIs (infra pp. 10-13);
- Evidence that Microsoft's purpose in releasing betas of its operating
system is to induce ISV reliance (infra pp. 5-8);
- Evidence that Microsoft's conduct harmed competition in the operating
systems market, including binding Findings of Fact and the statements
and testimony of Microsoft's executives (infra pp. 17-28); and
- Testimony that Microsoft's conduct left Novell without a competitively
viable option (infra pp. 29-30).
Microsoft also repeatedly portrays the facts in the light most favorable to itself,
ignores or obfuscates evidentiary conflicts that must be resolved in Novell's favor
in the Rule 50 context, and even resorts to technological misstatements that lack
evidentiary support. See infra pp. 6, 26, 27 & nn.2-3, 5-6.
Microsoft similarly disregards the applicable substantive law. A reasonable
jury could find that Microsoft's conduct was anticompetitive because it harmed
Novell, was not competition on the merits, and was reasonably capable of
contributing significantly to maintaining Microsoft's monopoly power in the
operating systems market. Like the District Court, Microsoft does not address the
definition of anticompetitive conduct. It nowhere defends its conduct as
competition on the merits and does not mention the District Court's conclusion that
a reasonable jury could have found Microsoft's proffered justifications for its
conduct to be pretextual. It also seeks (without justifying) a rule conferring
antitrust immunity for deception of competitors regardless of the effect on
competition. Further, in relying on Aspen Skiing Co. v. Aspen Highlands Skiing
Corp., 472 U.S. 585 (1985), Microsoft fails to distinguish between a refusal to deal and its affirmative inducement of reliance and use of deception. It also misapplies
Aspen Skiing by ignoring the "critical fact" in that case "that there were no valid
business reasons for the refusal," Christy Sports, LLC v. Deer Valley Resort Co.,
555 F.3d 1188, 1197 (10th Cir. 2009) in favor of requirements that the decision
does not support.
Microsoft advocates a similarly untenable standard for evaluating harm to
competition that would immunize monopolists from monetary liability for
exclusionary conduct directed at long-term competitive threats. Microsoft's
proposed standard finds no support in any decision and contravenes United States
v. Microsoft Corp., 253 F.3d 34 (D.C. Cir. 2001), on which the District Court
relied at summary judgment in finding a triable issue of fact on harm to
competition. Microsoft's suggestion that the D.C. Circuit's standard applies only
to claims for equitable relief contradicts the text of the Clayton Act and cases from
this Circuit applying the "reasonably capable" standard in evaluating damages
claims. Microsoft's proposed standard also is particularly ill-suited for the fast-moving computer software industry where, as the D.C. Circuit recognized,
conduct-based injunctions can be especially ineffectual and damages are, in many
cases, the only credible deterrent.
This touches all the bases that I would want them to and some I didn't think of. I have to say, it's well done.
The Novell brief in the docket:
02/22/2013 - [10047663] -
Appellant/Petitioner's reply brief filed by Novell, Inc.. 7 paper copies
to be provided to the court. Served on 02/22/2013. Manner of Service:
ECF/NDA. [12-4143] JMJ
Here is the brief as text:
************************
Case No. 12-4143
IN THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
NOVELL, INC.,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
MICROSOFT CORPORATION,
Defendant-Appellee.
____________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Utah
The Honorable Judge J. Frederick Motz
D.C. No. 2:04-CV-01045-JFM
__________________
APPELLANT'S REPLY BRIEF
________________
Jeffrey M. Johnson
James R. Martin
Miriam R. Vishio
DICKSTEIN SHAPIRO LLP
[address, phone, fax]
David Boies
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
[address, phone, fax]
(Additional counsel listed on inside cover)
Oral argument is requested
February 22, 2013
Max D. Wheeler
Maralyn M. English
SNOW, CHRISTENSEN & MARTINEAU
[address, phone, fax]
Stuart H. Singer
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
[address, phone, fax]
Samuel C. Kaplan
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
[address, phone, fax]
R. Bruce Holcomb
ADAMS HOLCOMB LLP
[address, phone, fax]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ................................. iii
INTRODUCTION .......................................... 1
ARGUMENT ............................................ 4
I. A REASONABLE JURY COULD CONCLUDE THAT
MICROSOFT'S CONDUCT WAS ANTICOMPETITIVE ........................... 4
A. Microsoft's Conduct Was Not Competition On The Merits And
Eliminated Novell As A Competitor ...........................4
1. Microsoft Induced Novell’’s Reliance On The Namespace
Extension APIs And Then Withdrew Support For No
Legitimate Reason...............................4
2. Microsoft Relied On Deception To De-Document The
Namespace Extension APIs ..............................11
3. Microsoft Altered A Voluntary Course Of Dealing
Without A Legitimate Competitive Reason.....................14
B. Microsoft’’s Conduct Was Reasonably Capable Of Contributing Significantly To Maintaining Its Monopoly Power ............................17
1. Microsoft’’s Argument Depends On An Incorrect Legal Standard ...........................................17
2. The Elimination Of Novell’’s Key Franchise Applications
Was Reasonably Capable Of Contributing Significantly
To Maintaining Microsoft’’s Monopoly Power.........................21
3. The Elimination Of Novell’’s Middleware Was
Reasonably Capable Of Contributing Significantly To
Maintaining Microsoft’’s Monopoly Power ....................25
i
II. NOVELL PRESENTED AMPLE EVIDENCE FOR A
REASONABLE JURY TO FIND THAT MICROSOFT'S
CONDUCT CAUSED NOVELL'S INJURY ............................ 28
A. Microsoft's Anticompetitive Conduct, Not Quattro Pro,
Delayed PerfectOffice ..................................28
B. Microsoft Left Novell With No Competitively Viable Options .........29
CONCLUSION .................................... 30
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ...................... 32
CERTIFICATE OF DIGITAL SUBMISSION AND
PRIVACY REDACTIONS ............................ 33
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE .............................. 34
ii
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Page
Cases
Aspen Skiing Co. v. Aspen Highlands Skiing Corp.,
472 U.S. 585 (1985) ..............................passim
Brooke Grp. Ltd. v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp.,
509 U.S. 209 (1993) ......................................... 14
Christy Sports, LLC v. Deer Valley Resort Co.,
555 F.3d 1188 (10th Cir. 2009) ......................passim
Four Corners Nephrology Assocs., P.C. v. Mercy Med. Ctr. of Durango,
582 F.3d 1216 (10th Cir. 2009) .....................5, 15, 16, 17
Multistate Legal Studies, Inc. v. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Legal
& Prof'l Publ'ns, Inc.,
63 F.3d 1540 (10th Cir. 1995) ............................. 14
Novell, Inc. v. Microsoft Corp. (In re Microsoft Corp. Antitrust Litig.),
699 F. Supp. 2d 730 (D. Md. 2010),
rev'd on other grounds, 429 F. App'x 254 (4th Cir. 2011) ........................ 19
United States v. Microsoft Corp.,
253 F.3d 34 (D.C. Cir. 2001) ............................passim
Verizon Commc'ns Inc. v. Law Offices of Curtis V. Trinko, LLP,
540 U.S. 398 (2004) ......................... 16
Statutes
15 U.S.C. § 15(a) ............................. 20
Other Authorities
3 Phillip E. Areeda & Herbert Hovenkamp, Antitrust Law ¶ 653b
(3d ed. 2011) ........................... 20
iii
INTRODUCTION
As Novell's opening brief showed, the evidence at trial provided ample basis
for a reasonable jury to conclude that Microsoft violated Section 2 of the Sherman
Act. Microsoft destroyed the competitive viability of Novell's office productivity
applications by inducing Novell's reliance on the namespace extension APIs,
withdrawing support for no legitimate reason when it was too late to redesign a
competitive product, and deceiving Novell and other ISVs about its reason for
doing so. By eliminating the top application (WordPerfect) in the most important
applications category (word processing) and middleware that Microsoft's
executives identified as a threat to Windows, Microsoft unlawfully maintained its
PC operating systems monopoly power at a critical "inflection point" when the
"exponential growth of the Internet" was fueling new threats. JA-1627 (FOF ¶ 60).
The applicable standard of review required the District Court to view the
evidence in the light most favorable to Novell. Microsoft's response, however,
disregards most of Novell's evidence, including:
- Evidence that Microsoft's conduct harmed competition in the operating
systems market, including binding Findings of Fact and the statements
and testimony of Microsoft's executives (infra pp. 17-28); and
- Testimony that Microsoft's conduct left Novell without a competitively
viable option (infra pp. 29-30).
Microsoft also repeatedly portrays the facts in the light most favorable to itself,
ignores or obfuscates evidentiary conflicts that must be resolved in Novell's favor
in the Rule 50 context, and even resorts to technological misstatements that lack
evidentiary support. See infra pp. 6, 26, 27 & nn.2-3, 5-6.
Microsoft similarly disregards the applicable substantive law. A reasonable
jury could find that Microsoft's conduct was anticompetitive because it harmed
Novell, was not competition on the merits, and was reasonably capable of
contributing significantly to maintaining Microsoft's monopoly power in the
operating systems market. Like the District Court, Microsoft does not address the
definition of anticompetitive conduct. It nowhere defends its conduct as
competition on the merits and does not mention the District Court's conclusion that
a reasonable jury could have found Microsoft's proffered justifications for its
conduct to be pretextual. It also seeks (without justifying) a rule conferring
antitrust immunity for deception of competitors regardless of the effect on
competition. Further, in relying on Aspen Skiing Co. v. Aspen Highlands Skiing
Corp., 472 U.S. 585 (1985), Microsoft fails to distinguish between a refusal to deal
2
and its affirmative inducement of reliance and use of deception. It also misapplies
Aspen Skiing by ignoring the "critical fact" in that case "that there were no valid
business reasons for the refusal," Christy Sports, LLC v. Deer Valley Resort Co.,
555 F.3d 1188, 1197 (10th Cir. 2009) in favor of requirements that the decision
does not support.
Microsoft advocates a similarly untenable standard for evaluating harm to
competition that would immunize monopolists from monetary liability for
exclusionary conduct directed at long-term competitive threats. Microsoft's
proposed standard finds no support in any decision and contravenes United States
v. Microsoft Corp., 253 F.3d 34 (D.C. Cir. 2001), on which the District Court
relied at summary judgment in finding a triable issue of fact on harm to
competition. Microsoft's suggestion that the D.C. Circuit's standard applies only
to claims for equitable relief contradicts the text of the Clayton Act and cases from
this Circuit applying the "reasonably capable" standard in evaluating damages
claims. Microsoft's proposed standard also is particularly ill-suited for the fast-moving computer software industry where, as the D.C. Circuit recognized,
conduct-based injunctions can be especially ineffectual and damages are, in many
cases, the only credible deterrent.
3
ARGUMENT
I. A REASONABLE JURY COULD CONCLUDE THAT
MICROSOFT'S CONDUCT WAS ANTICOMPETITIVE
A. Microsoft's Conduct Was Not Competition On The Merits And
Eliminated Novell As A Competitor
1. Microsoft Induced Novell’’s Reliance On The Namespace
Extension APIs And Then Withdrew Support For No
Legitimate Reason
Novell’’s opening brief outlined the evidence from which a reasonable jury
could find that inducing Novell’’s reliance on, and then withdrawing support for,
the namespace extension APIs harmed competition by eliminating Novell’’s key
franchise applications and middleware as a competitive threat. Opening Br.
29-38.
1 Microsoft asserts that this case should be analyzed as a pure refusal to deal
under Aspen Skiing, see Microsoft Br. 44-47, but addresses neither the definition of
anticompetitive conduct nor Novell’’s showing that Microsoft’’s conduct caused
““anticompetitive harm that would not have existed had Microsoft refrained from
documenting the namespace extension APIs at the outset.”” Opening Br. 29-35.
4
The harm to competition caused by Microsoft's inducement of reliance
(together with Microsoft's deception, as discussed below) differentiates this case
from the two cases Microsoft cites. In Four Corners Nephrology Associates, P.C.
v. Mercy Medical Center of Durango, 582 F.3d 1216 (10th Cir. 2009), and
Christy Sports, there was no assertion that competition was harmed more than if,
respectively, the plaintiff doctor had never received hospital credentials or the
restrictive covenant had been enforced from the outset. Instead, the Court
recognized that the defendants' conduct benefited consumers and competition.
See Four Corners, 582 F.3d at 1223-24; Christy Sports, 555 F.3d at 1195-96.
Moreover, the Court recognized the distinction between such conduct and, as here,
the disallowance of a previously invited investment that "imposed costs on a
competitor that had the effect of injuring competition in a relevant market."
Christy Sports, 555 F.3d at 1196. In response, Microsoft merely repeats the
District Court's mistaken proposition that a decision not to document the
namespace extension APIs is equivalent to a decision to withdraw support for
them, see Microsoft Br. 44-45, thereby ignoring the independent harm to
competition from the inducement of reliance.
Microsoft also heavily relies on a boilerplate disclaimer in the Windows 95
beta agreement, id. at 36-41, without addressing Novell's discussion of the issue,
5
Opening Br. 33-35. First, Microsoft cost Novell months of valuable product
development time by inducing Novell's reliance on the namespace extension APIs
six months before WordPerfect signed the beta disclaimer. See JA-2666;
JA-7175-77. Microsoft misleadingly suggests that its November 1993 meeting
with Novell referred only to shell extensibility generally, see Microsoft Br. 38,
without addressing the testimony cited by Novell that at that meeting, "`half of the
conversation concerned these NameSpace extension API's.'" Opening Br. 17
(quoting JA-11220 (Harral)).2
6
Second, Novell cited testimony that the purpose of distributing beta versions
of an operating system and documenting APIs is to induce ISV reliance. Opening
Br. 33-34. As one Microsoft executive testified regarding documenting an API,
the "stake" upon which ISVs rely "is probably going into the ground when you're
first being told about it and it's probably more firmly in the ground when there's a
beta release." JA-604-05 (Raikes); see also Opening Br. 33-34. Novell
established that Microsoft's business model depends on ISVs relying on betas to
design compatible applications for release within a short time after the release of
new versions of Windows. Opening Br. 33-34. Even Gates admitted in
announcing his de-documentation decision on October 3, 1994 that it was "very
late in the day" to be making such a change. JA-1967. Microsoft also cites no
evidence to support an industry understanding that betas can be changed to
disadvantage competitors. Far from it, Microsoft's need to deceive ISVs as to the
reason for de-documenting the namespace extension APIs demonstrates that it was
inconsistent with industry practice. Opening Br. 19-22. Microsoft ignores all of
this evidence and does not address the rule that an exercise of contractual rights
can be anticompetitive when taken, as here, for an anticompetitive purpose and
with anticompetitive effect. Id. at 34.
7
In contrast, Christy Sports involved enforcement of a restrictive covenant
after a period of non-enforcement, with no evidence of harm to competition in a
relevant market. 555 F.3d at 1190-91. Further, whereas the boilerplate language
of the beta agreement did not address the specific conduct at issue or reserve the
right to make changes to disadvantage competitors, JA-7175-77; JA-7178-81, the
covenant in Christy Sports authorized the precise restriction on competition that
the plaintiff there challenged (preventing an independent ski rental business), thus
negating any claim of reasonable reliance, 555 F.3d at 1190.
Novell also presented ample evidence for a reasonable jury to conclude that
Microsoft knew how its conduct would impact Novell. Microsoft fails to address
the email sent to Gates two days after his October 3, 1994 email and a week
before Microsoft informed ISVs of his decision to de-document the namespace
extension APIs stating that "`Other ISV's using the extensions are WordPerfect,
Lotus, Symantec, and Oracle.'" Opening Br. 36-37 (quoting JA-3691); see also
JA-6926. This email alone provided sufficient evidence that Microsoft knew
Novell was using the APIs. Microsoft further recognized in 1993 that WordPerfect
was "very happy about us deciding to document the shell extensions," JA-2666,
and Gates' email announcing his decision to de-document the APIs specifically
identified competition with "Lotus and Wordperfect/Novell" as the reason for
8
de-documentation, JA-1967. Novell also contacted Microsoft's Premiere Support
team on multiple occasions regarding the APIs prior to de-documentation and
complained to the team repeatedly after the decision. JA-11261-63, JA-11275-78,
JA-11280-81, JA-11285-86 (Harral). Microsoft asserts that there are no
"documents" reflecting complaints, Microsoft Br. 21 n.16, but a reasonable jury
also may rely on sworn testimony. Moreover, emails to Microsoft demonstrated
Novell's continued need for access to the namespace extension APIs. JA-3767-68;
JA-3772.3
Microsoft also knew that (1) WordPerfect's custom file open dialog was
superior to the Windows 95 common file open dialog (as well as Microsoft Word's
custom dialog); (2) the file open dialog of any Windows 95 application had to be
able to browse the system namespaces; (3) by de-documenting the namespace
extension APIs, Microsoft was forcing Novell to reduce the competitive viability
of its product or spend additional time developing its own custom namespace
9
browser, eleven months after telling Novell it was documenting the APIs that
would have eliminated the need to do so; and (4) Microsoft's Marvel application
would be late to market without access to the APIs. See Opening Br. 15-16, 22-25,
40, 42 n.7.4 Microsoft accounts for none of these points.
Instead, Microsoft relies on testimony and emails from Microsoft witness
Brad Struss that, at most, created a disputed issue of fact and had little to no
probative value even apart from the standard of review and contrary evidence
detailed above. The email stating that Novell was purportedly "OK" with Gates'
decision followed Microsoft's use of the deceptive script, which was part of the
same email chain. See Opening Br. 38 n.5. Struss' testimony also was inherently
suspect because he could not say whether Novell was one of the ISVs he later
identified in an email as "actively developing" using the namespace extension
APIs. See id. at 38 (citing JA-14298 (Struss)).
10
Moreover, the September 22, 1994 email on which Microsoft relies,
Microsoft Br. 20, supports Novell's claim because it reports that Novell was one of
several ISVs whose use of the namespace extension APIs was in the "`plan to do
so' stage." JA-3655. The critical fact about the de-documentation was not just
that Novell had completed significant work by that point, JA-11253 (Harral), but
that it disrupted Novell's expectation (created a year earlier by Microsoft) that it
would be able to rely on the APIs for its custom file open dialog. See supra
pp. 6, 9-10 & n.4. The same email chain further recognized that Novell may not
have been forthcoming with Microsoft about the precise status of its work with the
APIs. JA-3656, JA-3658 (stating that it was "Very Likely" work had begun but
that "detailed info will be difficult to get"). It also reports Novell's reaction that
there would "`be hell to pay in the press'" if the APIs were withdrawn. JA-3658.
Further, the September 22 email was sent two weeks before the October 5 email to
Gates that reported WordPerfect's use of the APIs. JA-3655; JA-3691.
2. Microsoft Relied On Deception To De-Document The Namespace Extension APIs
Novell’’s opening brief demonstrated that Microsoft’’s conduct also was
anticompetitive because its success depended on deceiving Novell and other ISVs
regarding the true reason for Microsoft’’s de-documentation of the namespace
extension APIs and that Marvel continued to use them. Opening Br. 19-22, 35-38.
11
Microsoft never acknowledges the District Court's conclusion that a
reasonable jury could have found its proffered reasons for the de-documentation to
be pretextual.5 Instead, Microsoft asserts that there was no deception, without
mentioning the District Court's conclusion or the other evidence of deception,
including the script that instructed Microsoft's employees to provide Novell and
other ISVs with pretextual reasons for Gates' decision, to falsely state that "Info
Center, Marvel, and MS apps will no longer use these interfaces" despite Marvel's
continued use of the APIs, and to "NOT MENTION MARVEL UNLESS ASKED
DIRECTLY." JA-3705; see Opening Br. 21.6
12
Microsoft illogically asserts that there was no deception because of a
supposed absence of complaints and the email stating that Novell was purportedly
"OK" with Gates' decision. Microsoft Br. 46. But Microsoft ignores Novell's
evidence that the "OK with this" report immediately followed Microsoft's use of
its deceptive script and thus reflects the success of the deception, not its absence.
Opening Br. 21-22, 38 & n.5. Nor could the beta agreement disclaimer establish
an absence of deception, both for the reasons discussed, supra pp. 5-8, and because
the disclaimer has no bearing on the deceptiveness of the misrepresentations
Microsoft made to accomplish the de-documentation six months later.
Microsoft also falsely asserts that Novell does not explain how Microsoft's
deception delayed the release of Novell's products. Microsoft Br. 46. To the
contrary, Novell explained that Microsoft could never have de-documented the
APIs had it revealed its true reason for doing so and that its own products were
continuing to use them. See Opening Br. 19-22.
In the alternative, Microsoft argues that deception of a competitor can never
give rise to a Section 2 claim. Microsoft Br. 47. It fails, however, to address the
District Court's rejection of that argument, JA-216 n.16, or otherwise offer any
13
basis for its proposed rule. Deception of a competitor meets the definition of
anticompetitive conduct, when, as here, it is "`not competition on the merits'" and
is "`reasonably capable of contributing significantly to creating or maintaining
monopoly power.'" Multistate Legal Studies, Inc. v. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Legal & Prof'l Publ'ns, Inc., 63 F.3d 1540, 1550 (10th Cir. 1995) (citation
omitted). Microsoft does not dispute that deception of non-competitors can violate
the antitrust laws, Microsoft Br. 47 n.26, and offers no reason why a different rule
should apply to competitors. The deception here is analogous to the deception of
ISVs that hindered the development of cross-platform applications in Microsoft,
253 F.3d at 76-77. In contrast, the general statements cited by Microsoft that not
every harsh business act violates the antitrust laws, Microsoft Br. 47, simply
recognize that there must additionally be harm to competition, not just competitors;
they do not confer the blanket antitrust immunity for deception of competitors that
Microsoft seeks. See, e.g., Brooke Grp. Ltd. v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco
Corp., 509 U.S. 209, 224-25 (1993).
3. Microsoft Altered A Voluntary Course Of Dealing Without A Legitimate Competitive Reason
Novell established that Microsoft’’s conduct also was anticompetitive under
Aspen Skiing because its withdrawal of support for the namespace extension APIs
unilaterally altered a prior, voluntary course of dealing for no legitimate
14
competitive reason. Opening Br. 38-42. In failing to address the District Court's
conclusion regarding pretext, or the absence of a legitimate competitive
justification for its conduct, Microsoft ignores the critical question under Aspen
Skiing. Id.
Instead, Microsoft argues that Aspen Skiing requires a complete termination
of the relationship and a denial to the plaintiff of benefits that all others are
afforded. Microsoft Br. 42-44. Neither is a requirement. When a unilateral
alteration of a prior course of dealing lacks competitive justification, the defendant
cannot evade liability by maintaining some form of relationship with the plaintiff
or equally disadvantaging all competitors. See Opening Br. 41-42.7 Specifically,
Microsoft's willingness to help Novell produce a non-competitive product does not
legitimize Microsoft's actions in preventing Novell from producing a competitive
product. See infra pp. 29-30; Opening Br. 22-25, 54-56.
15
Instead, the "`critical fact in Aspen Skiing was that there were no valid
business reasons for the refusal.'" Opening Br. 41 (quoting Christy Sports,
555 F.3d at 1197). The significance of the defendant's prior conduct was that it
shed "light upon the motivation of its refusal to deal." Verizon Commc'ns Inc. v.
Law Offices of Curtis V. Trinko, LLP, 540 U.S. 398, 409 (2004). The Court in
Four Corners similarly viewed the critical question as whether there was a
legitimate economic justification for the termination of the plaintiff's staff
privileges, concluding that the defendant acted
merely to keep its practice from becoming so unprofitable that it
would exhaust more rapidly than anticipated the reserves the hospital
and tribe had set aside and leave the town and tribe without the benefit
of a local nephrologist. Aspen Skiing does not require more economic
justification than this to avoid Section 2 liability.
582 F.3d at 1225. A total termination of the relationship, or discriminatory refusal
to deal, is thus unnecessary when, as here, there is sufficient evidence for a
reasonable jury to find that the proffered reasons for the refusal were pretextual.
Microsoft fails to address the quoted language from these cases and also
fails to address meaningfully four cases identified by Novell that do not require a
complete termination of the relationship as a prerequisite to liability under Aspen
Skiing. Opening Br. 41-42. Microsoft irrelevantly asserts that these cases
"recognized that in Aspen, defendant completely terminated the relationship,"
16
Microsoft Br. 43 n.24, but none of those cases found that fact to be necessary to a
finding of liability. Microsoft similarly misconstrues the significance of conduct
that denies "to a rival the retail prices available to all other consumers." Four
Corners, 582 F.3d at 1225. Four Corners recognized that this fact was evidence in
Aspen Skiing of the absence of economic justification, not that it was critical to a
finding of liability, as Microsoft claims. Here, Gates' October 3, 1994 email,
Novell's other cited evidence, and Microsoft's statements establish the absence of
an economic justification. See Opening Br. 39-41; supra n.7.
B. Microsoft's Conduct Was Reasonably Capable Of Contributing
Significantly To Maintaining Its Monopoly Power
1. Microsoft’’s Argument Depends On An Incorrect Legal Standard
Novell established that the proper standard for assessing harm to competition is whether the conduct was reasonably capable of contributing significantly to the maintenance of monopoly power. Opening Br. 43-45. Further, ““as a general matter the exclusion of nascent threats is the type of conduct that is reasonably capable of contributing significantly to a defendant’’s continued monopoly power.”” Microsoft, 253 F.3d at 79.
Microsoft wrongly asserts that Novell must show that the timely release of its products, by itself and in 1995, would have eliminated the applications barrier
17
to entry protecting Microsoft's monopoly power. See Microsoft Br. 48-51.8 It
further relies on the very factors underlying its monopoly power in its attempt to
evade liability for its exclusionary conduct. Id. This misguided reading of the
Sherman Act would immunize monopolists from monetary liability for destroying
nascent threats because, by definition, a nascent threat imperils monopoly power
over the longer term.
The D.C. Circuit rejected this argument, holding that a court "may infer
causation when exclusionary conduct is aimed at producers of nascent competitive
technologies as well as when it is aimed at producers of established substitutes."
Microsoft, 253 F.3d at 79. In finding Microsoft liable for conduct directed at
technologies that were not established substitutes based on the same state of
operating systems competition as existed in this case, the court explained that it
would be improper to require the victim of exclusionary conduct to "reconstruct
the hypothetical marketplace absent a defendant's anticompetitive conduct" and
that "it would be inimical to the purpose of the Sherman Act to allow monopolists
free reign to squash nascent, albeit unproven, competitors at will particularly in
18
industries marked by rapid technological advance and frequent paradigm shifts."
Id. The District Court applied this principle at summary judgment in finding a
triable issue of fact on harm to competition. Novell, Inc. v. Microsoft Corp. (In re
Microsoft Corp. Antitrust Litig.), 699 F. Supp. 2d 730, 748-50 (D. Md. 2010),
rev'd on other grounds, 429 F. App'x 254 (4th Cir. 2011).
Exemplifying its disregard for these principles, Microsoft argues that by
1999, consumers had not turned to Linux, an open-source operating system of
equal complexity to Windows. See JA-15859 (Murphy); Microsoft Br. 50 n.30.
Microsoft's destruction of WordPerfect in 1995, however, had prevented Linux
from offering by far the most popular competitive application in the most
important applications category, as well as middleware that Microsoft viewed as a
threat. See Opening Br. 8-12.9 Microsoft thus impermissibly relies on the
competitive harm its conduct created to immunize itself from liability.
Microsoft does not dispute that its proposed standard directly conflicts with
the D.C. Circuit's or that it would immunize all monopolists from damage claims
brought by nascent threats. Instead, it wrongly asserts that the D.C. Circuit
standard applies only in cases seeking equitable relief. Microsoft Br. 51 n.31.
Under this view, neither Netscape nor Sun could have brought damages claims
19
despite the D.C. Circuit's findings. The plain language of the Clayton Act,
however, provides a damages remedy to any victim "injured in his business or
property by reason of anything forbidden in the antitrust laws." 15 U.S.C.
§ 15(a).10 Microsoft disregards the statutory text as well as cases from this Circuit
applying the "reasonably capable" standard in evaluating damages claims.
Opening Br. 31 n.4, 45. The D.C. Circuit, moreover, expressly recognized that the
standard of liability did not vary based on the remedy sought, and thus limited the
requirement of a stricter causal connection between the challenged conduct and
maintenance of monopoly power to requests for "`extensive equitable relief,
particularly remedies such as divestiture.'" Microsoft, 253 F.3d at 80 (quoting
3 Phillip E. Areeda & Herbert Hovenkamp, Antitrust Law ¶ 653b, at 91-92 (3d ed.
2011)) (recognizing that "these queries go to questions of remedy, not liability").
The D.C. Circuit also specifically recognized the importance of damages in
achieving deterrence where, as here, "Conduct remedies" (like those the
Government secured against Microsoft) may be ineffective, "because innovation to
20
a large degree has already rendered the anticompetitive conduct obsolete (although
by no means harmless)." Id. at 49. Under such circumstances, "the threat of
private damage actions will remain to deter those firms inclined to test the limits of
the law." Id. This case demonstrates the inadequacy of conduct-based injunctions.
An injunction ordering Microsoft to document the namespace extension APIs
would have come long after the critical 90-day window following the release of
Windows 95, and thus far too late to avoid the harm to Novell and competition
caused by Microsoft's conduct.
2. The Elimination Of Novell’’s Key Franchise Applications Was Reasonably Capable Of Contributing Significantly To Maintaining Microsoft’’s Monopoly Power
Novell’’s opening brief cited ample evidence that Microsoft’’s destruction of
Novell’’s office productivity applications strengthened Microsoft’’s operating
systems monopoly power. Opening Br. 45-49. Microsoft’’s response neither
addresses this evidence nor disputes that the availability of a popular cross-
platform word processor would have been a prerequisite for an operating system to
compete with Windows. Instead, Microsoft asserts only that ““two or three
21
applications" could not have impacted competition because the applications barrier
to entry "cemented Microsoft's market position." Microsoft Br. 52.11
This assertion contradicts Microsoft's own recognition that "we dramatically
widen the `moat' that protects the operating system business" by owning "the key
`franchises'" i.e., "office productivity applications." JA-4293; JA-609 (Raikes).
Microsoft further admitted that WordPerfect's abandonment of development for
OS/2 (a rival operating system) was "a great example how we kill OS/2."
JA-2668. Microsoft thus recognized the importance of a popular word processor to
the competitive viability of Windows' competitors. A reasonable jury would only
have needed to credit these admissions neither of which Microsoft addresses to
find that the destruction of Microsoft's top rival by far (WordPerfect) in the most
important applications category (word processing) harmed competition in the
operating systems market. Opening Br. 8-10. Linux, for example, was an open-source operating system of comparable capability to Windows that,
notwithstanding its price advantages and the rapidly growing number of
22
applications that were supporting it, JA-15858-59 (Murphy), needed a popular,
cross-platform word processor to compete.
Moreover, binding Findings of Fact and Microsoft's statements established
that Microsoft's monopoly power was not "cemented" but rather vulnerable in
light of the "inflection point" represented by the "exponential growth of the
Internet" and the threats that it fostered, including Linux. See Opening Br. 7-8, 48;
JA-1627 (FOF ¶ 60).12 Microsoft also does not attempt to account for the benefits
to competing platforms of the combined availability of WordPerfect, Sun's Java,
and Netscape Navigator (a browser that Microsoft viewed with "dread," JA-1630
(FOF ¶ 77)), as well as the distribution agreement that, but for Microsoft's
conduct, would have increased the distribution of Navigator by an additional seven
million PCs. Opening Br. 53-54. Instead, Microsoft attempts to preclude this
23
Court's consideration of the issue by mischaracterizing its motion in limine.
Microsoft Br. 55 n.34.13
A reasonable jury, moreover, could easily have rejected Microsoft's
selective citation of market data concerning Novell's franchise applications,
Microsoft Br. 53, in favor of reliance on WordPerfect's 36% share of the word-processing installed base (equivalent to Microsoft Word's, see supra n.9, and far
higher than any other word processor's), the fact that 74% of the market had not
yet chosen a suite, and the high praise Novell's products had consistently received
in reviews and from Microsoft. Opening Br. 8-10; see, e.g., JA-3973 (1995
Microsoft memorandum stating, "The current suite of applications in PerfectOffice
are world class and there is reason for us to follow the progress of this suite very
24
carefully, especially given the strength of Novell's networking and sales force").14
A reasonable jury additionally could have credited Gates' admission in support of
his de-documentation decision that Microsoft "can't compete with Lotus and
Wordperfect/Novell without" having "the Office team really think through the
information intensive scenarios" required by "shell integration work." JA-1967.
Novell similarly presented ample evidence that its products would have been
cross-platform. WordPerfect historically had been designed for multiple
competing platforms, Novell continued to develop versions of WordPerfect for
Windows competitors (including UNIX and Linux), and Novell intended to release
PerfectOffice for non-Windows platforms. See Opening Br. 9; JA-9148;
JA-11932, JA-12203-04 (Frankenberg); JA-11303-04 (Harral); JA-11721 (Gibb).
A reasonable jury could easily have credited this testimony, and Microsoft offers
no basis for concluding otherwise.
3. The Elimination Of Novell’’s Middleware Was Reasonably Capable Of Contributing Significantly To Maintaining Microsoft’’s Monopoly Power
Microsoft’’s discussion of Novell’’s middleware fails to account for the
testimony of Microsoft’’s executives that Novell’’s middleware was one of
25
Windows' "most serious competitors" and threatened to "reduce Windows or
anything underneath it to a commodity." Opening Br. 11; see also JA-2492
(Microsoft document describing AppWare as potentially the "first viable platform
for commercial cross-platform development"). This evidence alone created a jury
question on the harm to competition caused by the destruction of Novell's
middleware. Microsoft and the District Court similarly fail to address various
other evidence cited by Novell. See Opening Br. 49-54.
Instead of addressing this evidence, Microsoft repeats the District Court's
mistake of requiring Novell's middleware to satisfy each of three criteria (i.e.,
cross-platform capability, ubiquity, and ability to support full-featured personal
productivity applications). Microsoft Br. 54-55. As Novell explained, these
criteria merely established what would be necessary for a single middleware
product alone to eliminate the applications barrier to entry; a middleware product,
however, could increase competition in the operating systems market by
weakening the barrier. Opening Br. 51-52. Microsoft ignores this argument.
Microsoft asserts that the Findings of Fact from the Government case
support application of these three criteria, Microsoft Br. 54-58, but the opposite is
true with respect to the second and third. Nothing in those Findings states that
Navigator or Java was ubiquitous, or that ubiquity was necessary for middleware to
26
weaken the applications barrier to entry. Similarly, the District Court in the
Government case found that Navigator and Java could not support full-featured
personal productivity applications. JA-1623 (FOF ¶ 28).15 Moreover, Microsoft
fails to acknowledge the binding Finding that "each type of middleware
contributed to the threat posed by the entire category," and that Novell's
middleware exposed more APIs than Navigator and Java combined. JA-1627-28
(FOF ¶ 68); Opening Br. 11-12.
As for the first requirement, Novell's history of designing cross-platform
applications, and the testimony that it would have continued to do so, provided
ample basis for a reasonable jury to conclude that PerfectOffice would have been
cross-platform. Opening Br. 9. Ignoring this evidence, Microsoft repeats, without
citation, the District Court's technological misconception that designing
PerfectOffice to call the namespace extension APIs would have prevented the
development of PerfectOffice for platforms without that feature. Microsoft Br. 56.
Nothing supports this assertion, and it was specifically contradicted by Novell's
technical expert. Opening Br. 50-51; JA-12421 (Alepin). Reliance on this
27
unfounded supposition is still more unjustified when, as here, Novell is entitled to
the benefit of all reasonable inferences.
II. NOVELL PRESENTED AMPLE EVIDENCE FOR A REASONABLE
JURY TO FIND THAT MICROSOFT'S CONDUCT CAUSED
NOVELL'S INJURY
A. Microsoft's Anticompetitive Conduct, Not Quattro Pro, Delayed
PerfectOffice
Novell's opening brief demonstrated that the District Court's conclusion that
Quattro Pro delayed the release of PerfectOffice improperly resolved a disputed
question of fact. Two witnesses with personal knowledge of PerfectOffice's
development including Gary Gibb, who oversaw its development testified that
PerfectOffice would have shipped within 60-90 days of Windows 95's release had
shared code (which was delayed by Microsoft's conduct) delivered on time.
Opening Br. 60.
At most, Microsoft identifies potentially conflicting testimony for the jury to
resolve. Moreover, Nolan Larsen, the witness on whom Microsoft primarily relies,
testified (as did four other witnesses) that Gibb was best situated to know whether
PerfectOffice would have shipped on time but for the delay of shared code (i.e.,
PerfectFit). Opening Br. 60-61.
Microsoft also has no substantive response to Novell's discussion of the
documentary evidence, including DX 231, which reported an August 23, 1995
28
code completion date for Quattro Pro (more than two months before the
October 31, 1995 code completion date for PerfectFit and PerfectOffice).
JA-9147. Microsoft irrelevantly asserts only that "Novell failed to ask any witness
about this document," Microsoft Br. 60 n.37, without explaining how a lack of
Novell questions about an exhibit designated by Microsoft could justify a disregard
for what it plainly says. Microsoft also repeats the District Court's
misunderstanding of the Release to Manufacturing Date identified in DX 231, id.,
without addressing Novell's discussion of how the District Court misread that
document, see Opening Br. 61-62. Finally, Microsoft does not respond to Novell's
discussion of DX 230 (JA-9145) or the other evidence on this issue. See Opening
Br. 61-62.
B. Microsoft Left Novell With No Competitively Viable Options
Novell's opening brief established that the District Court's conclusion that
Novell could have released its products using Microsoft's common file open dialog
improperly resolved a disputed question of fact.16 Novell's witnesses testified that
29
the common file open dialog was not an option because it would have left Novell
without a competitively viable product. See Opening Br. 23-25, 54-56.
Microsoft inaccurately characterizes Novell's decision as a choice between
fatal delay and a sacrifice of "`cooler' functionality," Microsoft Br. 63 (citation
omitted), but there was ample evidence that the choice was really between two
fatal outcomes. See, e.g., JA-11563 (Richardson) ("It was a huge step backwards
for us. And we felt it simply wasn't an option. If we were to go with that option
we didn't really have a product." (emphasis added)); see also Opening Br. 23-25,
54-56. Novell's cited evidence which Microsoft ignores disposes of any notion
that the common file open dialog was "an obviously adequate alternative,"
Microsoft Br. 62, and provides ample basis for a reasonable jury to conclude that
the common file open dialog was not a viable option for Novell.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, the District Court's judgment should be reversed and the case
remanded for trial.
30
February 22, 2013
Respectfully submitted,
David Boies
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER
[address, phone, fax] | /s/ Jeffrey M. Johnson
Jeffrey M. Johnson
James R. Martin
Miriam R. Vishio
DICKSTEIN SHAPIRO LLP
[address, phone, fax, email] |
Stuart H. Singer
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
[address, phone, fax] | Max D. Wheeler
Maralyn M. English
SNOW, CHRISTENSEN & MARTINEAU
[address, phone, fax] |
Samuel C. Kaplan
BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
[address, phone, fax] |
R. Bruce Holcomb
ADAMS HOLCOMB LLP
[address, phone, fax] |
31
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
As required by Fed. R. App. P. 32(a)(7)(C), I certify that this brief is
proportionally spaced and contains 6,965 words. I relied on my word processor,
which is Microsoft Word 2010, to obtain the word count. I certify that this
information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief formed after
reasonable inquiry.
/s/ Jeffrey M. Johnson
32
CERTIFICATE OF DIGITAL SUBMISSION AND
PRIVACY REDACTIONS
I certify that a copy of the foregoing APPELLANT'S REPLY BRIEF as
submitted in Digital Form via the Court's CM/ECF system is an exact copy of the
written document filed with the Clerk and has been scanned for viruses. In
addition, I certify that all required privacy redactions have been made.
/s/ Jeffrey M. Johnson
33
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that on February 22, 2013, I caused the foregoing APPELLANT'S
REPLY BRIEF to be served on all parties or their counsel of record through the
Court's CM/ECF system.
/s/ Jeffrey M. Johnson
_______________________
1
Without citation, Microsoft unjustifiably references supposed conversations with
jurors that occurred outside the presence of Novell's counsel and the District Court
and for which there is no record evidence. Microsoft Br. 7 n.4. This Court should
disregard Microsoft's improper footnote. As the District Court recognized, it
"appears undisputed that eleven of the twelve jurors would have returned a verdict
in favor of Novell on the issue of liability." JA-198 n.4.
2
Additionally, Microsoft's internal report of the meeting referred to
WordPerfect's desire to extend the shell in a way that indisputably required the
namespace extension APIs. See JA-2666 ("Since they just aquired [sic] a
document management system (I forget from who) I assume they will want to
plug that in, plus WP mail and other part [sic] of WP office too."); see also
JA-15375-76 (Belfiore).
Equally misleading, Microsoft points to an irrelevant warning that the namespace
extension APIs were not to be used to "edit documents." Microsoft Br. 15, 38. As
Microsoft is aware, Novell never claimed to need them for this purpose. Rather,
Novell needed them to browse Windows 95's default namespace using its custom
file open dialog and to install its custom namespaces in the Windows Explorer and
common dialog. Opening Br. 15-16. Microsoft does not dispute that these uses
were legitimate and intended. See id.; JA-6839 (1996 Microsoft documentation for
the APIs stating that "anyone can provide either browser code that browses the
system namespace, or a namespace extension that extends the system namespace
that can be browsed using the Explorer"). Microsoft's suggestion that Novell
could not have commenced work on the APIs until receipt of the M6 beta
documentation, Microsoft Br. 38-39, is both untrue, see JA-11251-52, JA-11262,
JA-11426 (Harral), and irrelevant given that Novell relied for months on the
assumption that its product would have ready access to the namespace extension
APIs, see above text and infra pp. 9-10 & n.4.
3
While Microsoft disputes that the November 1994 emails reflected a
"complaint," it does not dispute that they reflected Microsoft's knowledge of
Novell's continued attempts to use the namespace extension APIs. See Microsoft
Br. 21 n.16 (citing JA-3767-68, JA 3772); Opening Br. 37. Microsoft also falsely
states that when Novell complained about undocumented APIs generally, Novell
really meant the "different topic" of APIs that had never been documented,
Microsoft Br. 22, even though Novell's CEO testified to the contrary,
JA-12178-79, JA-12181 (Frankenberg). Moreover, as discussed previously
without response from Microsoft, any lack of more vehement complaints is readily
attributable to Microsoft's deception. See Opening Br. 38, 58; infra p. 13.
4
See also JA-15292-93 (Belfiore) & JA-5750-51 (Microsoft testimony and
document stating that a custom file open dialog needed to be able to access the
system namespace); JA-4287 (stating after re-publishing the APIs in 1996, "The
goal of name space extensions is to eliminate the need to write a complete
browser" and "Until now, developers wanting this level of integration had to
implement their own custom browser (like EnumDesk) that handled their own data
type information along with the standard name space"). Further, in focusing on the
number of APIs at issue, Microsoft Br. 1-2, 15, 19, Microsoft ignores the
considerable evidence of their importance, see Opening Br. 13-19.
5
Microsoft asserts that the email announcing Gates' decision "refers only to a
hoped-for advantage for Office from an expected, later, improved version of the
NSEs." Microsoft Br. 19 n.14. This cryptic and unsupported assertion neither
addresses the District Court's conclusion concerning pretext, nor provides a
legitimate basis for de-documenting the namespace extension APIs. Gates' email
confirms that the APIs were "a very nice piece of work." JA-1967. It does not
refer to "an expected, later, improved version of the NSEs," Microsoft Br. 19 n.14,
but instead echoes the earlier recognition of a Microsoft executive that
documenting the APIs would force Microsoft to compete with Novell on "`even
turf,'" Opening Br. 18-19 (quoting JA-2335). Microsoft also asserts that the email
does not refer to harm to competition in the operating systems market, Microsoft
Br. 19 n.14, thereby disregarding Microsoft's own recognition of the connection
between its success in the applications market and its operating systems strength,
and of the threat posed by Novell's middleware. See Opening Br. 43-54; infra
pp. 17-28.
6
Microsoft asserts that its statements about its applications' use of the APIs were
not false because Marvel was an "online system utility" that "shipped as part of
Windows and was not a separate product." Microsoft Br. 19 n.13. This is the
precise obfuscation that Microsoft executive Brad Silverberg stated was an ““impossible sale”” that ““no one in the world outside of Microsoft”” would believe. JA-3689; see also JA-556-57 (Silverberg). Microsoft also fails to explain why it concealed Marvel’’s use of the APIs.
7
Microsoft also reinforces evidence previously cited by Novell showing that
Microsoft's alteration of its course of dealing demonstrated a willingness to
forsake short-term profits for long-term anticompetitive gain. See Opening Br.
39-41; JA-12894 (Noll); Microsoft Br. 14 n.9 (admitting that "it is in Microsoft's
business interest to encourage ISVs to write their applications to Windows.
Denying ISVs access to necessary APIs would make Windows less appealing.");
id. at 49 (relying on testimony that "Microsoft's market share would have been
higher, not lower, if Novell had not been delayed"). By contrast, Microsoft's cited
cases involved conduct designed to produce short-term gains, not losses. See Four
Corners, 582 F.3d at 1225; Christy Sports, 555 F.3d at 1197.
8
For example, Microsoft incorrectly asserts that "Novell's theories of harm to
competition depend on the contemporaneous existence of a competing operating
system that could gain market share." Microsoft Br. 50 n.29; see also id. at n.30
(relying on testimony that Linux "`became a full-fledged, commercial product' in
1996" (citation omitted)).
9
WordPerfect had an equivalent installed base to Microsoft Word (36% compared
to 37%), with the next closest competitor at 7%. Opening Br. 8-9.
10
Microsoft also confuses the burden of proof necessary to establish a Section 2
violation with proof of whether the violation caused the plaintiff's antitrust injury.
It relies on a passage from the Areeda & Hovenkamp treatise that has nothing to do
with harm to competition but instead stands for the proposition that damages in an
antitrust case should be "strictly limited to those aspects of a plaintiff's injury that
were in fact caused" by the defendant's antitrust violation. Microsoft Br. 51 n. 31
(emphasis added) (citation omitted).
11
As discussed above, see supra n.7, Microsoft merely confirms its liability under
Aspen Skiing by relying on testimony that its market share initially would have
been higher if it had not destroyed Novell's products. Microsoft Br. 49. It does
not undermine the evidence establishing the long-term harm to competition in the
operating systems market from losing by far the most popular cross-platform word
processor in the most important applications category.
12
Microsoft recognized both the rise of the Internet as a competitive threat and
that Novell's products were well poised to take advantage of the Internet. Opening
Br. 7-8, 18 (citing JA-3696); see also JA-3696 (Gates' email stating that a Novell
presentation two weeks before the decision to de-document the namespace
extension APIs demonstrated WordPerfect's Internet capabilities, "the importance
of our shell integration," and that "Novell is a lot more aware of how the world is
changing than I thought they were"); JA-5720 (Gates stating after the
WordPerfect-Novell merger that "Novell's WordPerfect Office is a highway
product in the future" in "terms of the information superhighway").
13
Microsoft asserts that the District Court prevented Novell from arguing that
"PerfectOffice posed a threat to Microsoft's monopoly in combination with these
other products." Microsoft Br. 55 n.34. As Microsoft's own description reflects,
however, the motion in limine related only to a "theory that PerfectOffice could be
a middleware threat `in combination with' Netscape Navigator and Sun's Java."
Id. Novell does not contend that the three products could have served as a
combined middleware product, but rather points to the combined helpfulness of the
three franchises in diminishing the applications barrier to entry, and the
distribution agreement between Novell and Netscape. The District Court admitted
the distribution agreement as evidence, and two witnesses testified about its
importance. See JA-3858; JA-11942-43, JA-11962, JA-11974-75 (Frankenberg);
JA-12765-69 (Noll).
14 Microsoft reiterates the District Court’’s irrelevant assertion that WordPerfect’’s past success had not displaced Windows. Microsoft Br. 53. Novell addressed this point, see Opening Br. 48, and Microsoft offers no response.
15
Microsoft does not even suggest that Navigator could support full-featured
personal productivity applications. It quotes Finding of Fact 74 with the evident
intent of suggesting that Java could do so, Microsoft Br. 57-58, but the same
Finding confirms that "the Java class libraries do not expose enough APIs to
support the development of full-featured applications that will run well on multiple
operating systems without the need for porting," JA-1629 (FOF ¶ 74).
16
Further disregarding the standard of review, Microsoft asserts that use of the
de-documented APIs was a "real choice" and suggests that the only potential risk
was that Microsoft might remove the APIs from Windows "in later years."
Microsoft Br. 26. Microsoft thus ignores direct testimony that its refusal to
provide any assistance prevented the use of the APIs, the testimony of its own
expert that "it's a bad practice to call on undocumented APIs," and Microsoft's warning to ISVs that the APIs could stop working ““even between interim beta builds.”” Opening Br. 23, 54.
34
|