Apple claims Microsoft bullied it into alliance

Microsoft threatened to withdraw Microsoft Office for the Macintosh unless Apple Computer made Internet Explorer its default browser, a US court heard yesterday.

Apple's claims that the Seattle giant bullied it into the alliance the two companies announced last year are the latest accusations from the Microsoft versus US Department of Justice anti-trust case.

In a written statement, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, Avie Tevanian, said the company had wanted to offer both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator, but they were prevented from doing so by Microsoft.

He also alleged that Microsoft used its monopoly position to defeat Apple's QuickTime technology. Microsoft's lawyers will question Tevanian on Friday.