Microsoft settles Montana suit
C|Net | at | by Mike
Microsoft on Monday said it will pay $12.3 million in vouchers to settle a class-action suit brought by Montana consumers who claimed the company violated the state's antitrust laws. Microsoft will issue the vouchers to Montana customers who purchased its operating system, productivity suite, spreadsheet or word processing software over a four-year period ending August 2002. The $5 to $12 vouchers can be used to purchase computer hardware or software from any manufacturer. Microsoft also will donate half of the unclaimed settlement proceeds to Montana schools.
The software maker now has 15 similar class-action lawsuits outstanding in various states and the District of Columbia. Microsoft earlier this year reached a whopping $1.1 billion settlement with California and a $202 million settlement with Florida.