Windows 'doomed' if sanctions go ahead

Microsoft would have to withdraw Windows from the market if a federal court approves sanctions against the company, warned chief executive Steve Ballmer.

In a video deposition in the long running antitrust case, Ballmer claimed that that it was almost impossible to comply with the remedy proposal demanded by the nine states against Microsoft.

"I do not even know how to comply [with the litigating states' remedy proposal]. I actually think we would need to withdraw the Windows product from the marketplace. That would be the only way I understand to comply with the proposal as put forward by the non-settling states," he said.

Microsoft released the depositions from Ballmer and senior vice president Jim Allchin in compliance with a court order demanding that transcripts and videotapes of five interviews in the case be made available to the media.

The software giant posted transcripts on its legal news website, but not before removing material considered confidential.

A deposition is sworn oral testimony generally available only to the parties directly involved in a lawsuit.