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Microsoft agreed to a settlement with California consumers and businesses to resolve a class action suit that alleged it overcharged for its products. The value of the settlement is $1.1 billion. For more information on the lawsuit please download the public notices:
Who is Eligible? The settlement applies to people or entities that indirectly purchased Microsoft Windows operating system, MS-DOS operating system, Word, Excel or Office, for use in California, from February 1995 through December 2001. It does not include software designed for use on the Mac platform. For example, Excel for Mac is not eligible for a claim. However, Microsoft software designed for PC compatible machines but purchased to run on Macs through a virtual PC emulator would be included. What is the value of a claim? Consumers can obtain vouchers for each license purchased during the specified time frame. Business can file claims for volume licenses purchased and used within California based facilities. The business headquarters need not reside in California. Each license is worth: $16 for MS-Dos or Windows, $29 for Office, $26 for Excel, and $5 for Word. What can be purchased with the vouchers? Consumers can use the vouchers to purchase any computer, monitor, mouse, keyboard, printer, scanner, or any non-custom software. Custom software, servers, and server software are excluded. Are schools and governments eligible? Government and Public Schools are excluded from the initial phase of the settlement. Schools may participate in the initial phase by utilizing donated vouchers. Up to $650 in vouchers can be donated or transferred. An entity may not redeem more than $10,000 in transferred funds. However, these can be aggregated: for example, if a donation program was organized for a school, the school district, the PTA, or other school organizations (e.g., the Dad's Club) could all be considered separate entities, and each could submit claims for up to $10,000. How do public schools benefit? At the end of the claims period (March 15, 2004), the unredeemed monies shall go into a cy pres fund. One-third of the fund shall revert to Microsoft. The remaining funds will be available to the poorest schools in California: those where at least 40% of the students qualify for free lunches under the School Lunch Program. The funds will be in the form of vouchers for purchase of hardware, software and technology services for the PC or Apple computers (a broader category of items than for the current redemption program). Important Dates: Claim forms must be submitted by March 15, 2004. Claims will not be paid before February 2004 (the date for final approval of the settlement), and could be later if the settlement is contested. How can I file a claim? There are three ways to file a claim:
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