Microsoft Antitrust Settlement Ready for Distribution

FindLaw

By FindLaw

A $1.1 billion antitrust settlement with Microsoft is now available for distribution, according to attorneys at Townsend Townsend & Crew, the San Francisco firm that represented California consumers and businesses. In August 2006, cash vouchers will be sent to Californians who made claims for their share of the settlement proceeds.

Under the terms of the settlement, a portion of unclaimed settlement proceeds will be distributed to California public schools. These vouchers, reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars, will be used by the schools to purchase computer software, hardware and services.

Although the settlement was approved in July of 2004 by Judge Paul Alvarado, actual distribution was delayed due to an appeal by a single class member who objected to the donation of unclaimed proceeds to California public schools. His appeal was rejected by the California Appellate and Supreme courts.

As stated in a previous FindLaw interview, antitrust attorneys Eugene Crew and Richard Grossman filed suit in 1999 “to prove that Microsoft substantially overcharged its consumer and business customers as a result of its illegal monopolies in the operating system, spreadsheet and word processing software markets.”

Townsend Townsend & Crew has also settled another case against Microsoft on behalf of California's state and local government entities for $70 million, according to a recent press release.

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