Microsoft's toughest competitors eagerly joined in, taking Gates to task for what they see as monopolistic practices. Amid a barrage of complaints, neither competitors nor senators advocated new laws to rein in the software giant, whose practices are being challenged in court as anti-competitive by the Justice Department. Hatch took on Gates bluntly, at one point raising his voice in frustration. But Gates insisted his company has succeeded solely because of ingenuity and an extraordinary ability to satisfy customers. A brash new startup could come along at any time and knock it from its exalted perch, he said.
Nobody owns the factory for ideas.
Since Gates started his software company from scratch 23 years ago in a dorm room, Microsoft has risen to become one of the most powerful companies in the world. Recently, the public's view of Microsoft seemed to shift from awe at its success to apprehension at its unbridled power. In December, a federal judge ordered Microsoft to separate the operating system from the browser, but declined to impose the fine. Microsoft is appealing the order. Tuesday's hearing presented the extraordinary sight of a row of billionaires making their case in a congressional hearing room.