Microsoft's North Carolina settlement approved

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 7 Nov 2003 at 12:46

Microsoft's proposed settlement over the anti-trust, class-action suit with consumers in the state of North Carolina has met with approval (North Carolina is one of the six states that settled with Microsoft in the long running legal dispute).

The plaintiffs stand to receive vouchers to the tune of $89mn, to be spent on hardware and software from any vendor. Although, for some reason, the choice of peripherals that can be bought is limited.

The value of any unclaimed funds will be split evenly between needy schools and needy Microsoft.

Potentially 45 per cent of North Carolina schools would benefit from unclaimed vouchers (though, of course, when the schools benefit, Microsoft also benefits).

Brad Smith, general counsel for Microsoft, said: 'We're pleased by the opportunity.'