A New York Supreme Court judge in Manhattan appears to be ready to give final approval to a settlement that will see software giant Microsoft Corp. pay up to $350 million to residents of New York state who bought software from the company between 1994 and 2004.
This marks the 15th and latest in a series of state class-action suits against Microsoft to be settled following the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust case.
According to http://www.microsoftnysettlement.com/, a website that is tracking the proceedings, Judge Karla Moskowitz is expected to give final approval to the settlement at a hearing on June 13.
Under the settlement, New Yorkers who purchased computers between May 18, 1994, and December 31, 2004, running certain versions of Microsoft Windows software will be able to receive $12 vouchers from Microsoft that can be redeemed to buy additional versions of Windows. Five-dollar vouchers will also be available for packaged software such as Microsoft Office, Excel or Word, and can be used to purchase additional Microsoft software.
The claim forms are on the settlement website. Different forms are available for customers who bought computers in retail stores, by mail or over the Internet, and for customers who purchased through the company’s volume-licensing programs.
According to the settlement website, customers must fill out and send in a claim form by Oct. 18, 2006 to benefit from the settlement.
The settlement deals with claims that Microsoft illegally used its monopoly to overcharge users for Windows products and other software, although the company has not admitted any illegal activity or wrongdoing.
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