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AMD's Sanders knows nothing about anything, claim States

Industry, software, hardware, you name it, Jerry doesn't know

The breadth of AMD chairman Jerry Sanders ignorance is quite staggering, if the Unsettling States are to be believed. Earlier this week lawyers for the States still pressing for tougher measures against Microsoft filed a motion in limine concerning Jerry's contributions to the Microsoft defence, and if we were Jerry we'd feel pretty hurt.

Let's hear it from the judge, as reported in the trial transcript for Tuesday morning: "Let me go through my comments relating to the plaintiffs' motion in limine relating to some of the written direct testimony of Mr. Sanders.

"The first area relates to lack of personal knowledge, rule 602. Plaintiffs have objected to a lack of personal knowledge in three categories."

These categories are, "One, the computer industry as a whole; two, the computer industry consumers; and three, software and/or hardware vendors." Well, that seems to cover it - what was it you said you did for a living again, Jerry? As usual, Judge Collar-Kottelly sort of allowed his testimony, but said she'd weight it, depending on whether she thought it was valid, admissible, whatever.

Subsequently, Jerry does not seem to have had a particularly good morning. Under cross-examination he conceded that he hadn't read the States' proposed remedies, and that he'd been called by His Billness asking for a personal favour on February 8th, which was the cut-off date for the trial witness list. He's only had about four personal calls from Bill in his life, and this was only the second one asking for a personal favour. Lamentably, the lawyer seems not to have asked him what the other was, so we remain unenlightened.

Having agreed to Bill's request that he testify in Microsoft's favour on the basis that Bill said the proposed remedies he hadn't read were "crazy," Jerry then observed that he'd been kind of hoping Bill was calling him about Hammer support instead. Much talking around the houses here, with Bill promising to talk to his people, but as of Tuesday 16th April, there's been no announcement of Hammer support by Microsoft: "And as you sit here today you're still waiting to see -- to have a public announcement if one will be made; correct?"

It is indeed correct, as Jerry conceded. One might also speculate that, given that the plaintiff States are trying to establish that Jerry testifying is a quid pro quo for a Microsoft Hammer announcement, it is now most unlikely that Microsoft will make such an announcement in the near future. Well done Jerry, good shooting.

Jerry does however appear to have been interrogated about something interesting later on. Unfortunately, after listening to the AMD lawyer's arguments, the judge decided "there is a basis in terms of protecting the competitive standing and that there will be a clearly defined and serious injury to AMD's business interests." The questioning was therefore conducted under seal in a closed courtroom.

Immediately prior to this, however, Jerry had an "oversight" pointed out to him. In his written deposition, it had been claimed he'd been named semiconductor CEO of the year for 1983, 1984 and 1985 by the Wall Street Journal. The publication in question turns out to have been the somewhat less famous Wall Street Transcript, "Oh, I think it meant that it was reported in the Wall Street Journal. I'm sorry. It's an oversight." Yeah, right, Jerry... ®

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