Zittrain also accused Microsoft of creating a more feature-rich Java virtual machine--an application which runs programs written in Sun Microsystem's Java language--simply to render it incompatible with Java virtual machines running on other platforms, thus prompting the poisoned coffee reference.

He said this was an attempt to force programmers to continue developing only for the Microsoft Windows environment.

He said Microsoft unfairly ensured that its Internet Explorer, which includes the Java virtual machine, became the Java standard by offering a discount to computer manufacturers that installed only Internet Explorer and thus left out Netscape Navigator, the browser's main competitor.

"Not because of innovation, not because of smarter programmers, [but] because of monopoly powers Microsoft [attempted] to stave off a potential threat to their monopoly," he said.

Scherer contested the validity of Zittrain's argument that Microsoft violated anti-trust laws.

"I think the government's case is very weak on all three counts," he said. "You can go out and buy a Macintosh if you want."

Scherer also said that numerous other alternative operating systems are available, including Linux, a free Unix-like operating system that is used by millions and considered technologically superior in some aspects.