The author of The Microsoft File: The Secret Case Against Bill Gates claims that Microsoft is on a "witch hunt for sources" that she used for her recently published book which accuses Gates of predatory business practices.
In an email this week, author Wendy Goldman Rohm wrote that Microsoft accused Caldera, the company that filed an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft in 1996, of leaking information to Rohm for use in her book.
"Microsoft is on a witch hunt for sources apparently, and ... accuses Caldera of leaks in regard to articles I published.... [Microsoft] seeks to find Caldera in contempt of court," Rohm wrote. Rohm believes that Microsoft is attempting to stall the case.
She said a sealed motion presented by Microsoft stated the "evidence is overwhelming that Ms. Rohm received confidential materials referred to throughout her new book from Caldera or its lawyers."
Rohm called the claim completely false.
"Caldera was not the source for the leaks," she said. "While I cannot name sources, and usually would not comment on sources at all, I cannot stand by while Microsoft falsely accuses Caldera of leaking information that it clearly did not leak to me. I can say that information throughout my articles and my book came from Microsoft sources and others."
Rohm recalled, too, that Microsoft originally dismissed her book as fabrication when it first appeared. If that's true, she wondered, why the intense interest now?
"It ... put my entire book into evidence, oddly enough," she said. "This is the book that it publicly described as 'fiction,' but then behind the scenes is complaining to a judge that the book is filled with internal Microsoft information."
Microsoft spokesman Jim Cullinan explained his company's position.
"Rohm herself has admitted that she made up many scenes in the book, scenes where she herself was not present. But there are isolated references to documents in the book that we feel were improperly used. We are proceeding with our complaint against Caldera."
Rohm called this charge "an absolute lie and fabrication." She said that she has never admitted to making up scenes, and that the book is a highly sourced work of nonfiction.
In July 1996, Caldera, a Utah software developer, filed an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft, accusing the software giant of "unfair pricing practices and license agreements," and "anti-competitive conduct."
"Unless restrained by order of this court, Microsoft will permanently destroy competition in the DOS market in the microcomputer software industry," Caldera's complaint read.
The lawsuit echoes many of the charges made in 1994 by the US Department of Justice against Microsoft, a case which is now being thrashed out in court.
In late September, the court handling Caldera v. Microsoft rejected a motion filed by Microsoft requesting a 120-day delay in the trial. It remains on track to begin in early June.
Editor's Note: This story was updated to reflect comments from Goldman Rohm in response to Microsoft's allegation that she invented parts of her book.
