Microsoft settlement final

Roxanne Conlin lead attorney for the plaintiffs

Microsoft settlement final Polk County District Judge Scott Rosenberg this morning gave final approval to a settlement that officially ends an Iowa antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft Corp.

Roxanne Conlin, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said eight people filed objections the settlement, but "no one came to court to speak, and they were very general objections." The attorney's fees, she said, were not the subject of any objections.

In April, the software giant agreed to pay Iowa consumers $179.95 million. Unlike any of the other settlements across the country, Microsoft will pay consumers in cash as opposed to vouchers for future purchases of software. Iowa state and local government agencies and those that purchased their products under volume license agreements will receive vouchers that can be used to purchase items from any manufacturer, not just Microsoft.

Many legal experts were surprised at the size of the requested attorney's fees, which total $67.2 million. Conlin said that will go to pay 150 separate people who worked on the case at four different law firms. It also includes $7.8 million the law firms spent on the case, she said.

"Microsoft has looked at the fee petition and agrees these fees are fair," she said.

Class members are entitled to receive $16 for each copy of Microsoft Windows or MS-DOS they purchased; $25 for each copy of Microsoft Excel; $29 for each copy of Microsoft Office; and $10 for each copy of Microsoft Word, Works and Home Essential software. Consumers do not need proof of purchase to be reimbursed for up to $200 by mail and $100 via the Internet.

Microsoft will provide one-half of the difference between $179.95 million and the unclaimed cash and vouchers to Iowa public schools in the form of vouchers that may be used by the schools to purchase a broad range of hardware products, Microsoft and non-Microsoft software, and professional development services.

For details on how to receive payment, go to www.IowaMicrosoftCase.com. Consumers have until Dec. 14 to file.

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