The President of Microsoft, Mr Steve Ballmer, has said his company would love to settle the antitrust suit which threatens to break up the US software giant. However, he also said that he believes Microsoft acted within the law.

The US Department of Justice and 19 states brought an antitrust suit against Microsoft and the judge in the case recently issued his Findings of Fact, concluding that the company was a monopoly and had illegally crushed its competition.

In an interview with Business This Week, Mr Ballmer said Microsoft would love to settle the case.

"That would be our preferred course, but certainly, we have to have the ability to add capabilities to our products that consumers want. And that's the one principle we're fighting for. We can compromise on a lot of other things but that's essential."