Microsoft will refund consumers

[Chris Blount]

Just found this in the Sacramento Bee:

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/courts_legal/story/5884813p-6848619c.html

Under terms of the agreement, consumers who bought certain Microsoft products between Feb. 18, 1995 and Dec. 15, 2001 will collect vouchers worth between $5 and $29 for each product purchased.

Businesses that bought multiple copies of the products will see a proportional increase in their share of the settlement.

And firms cashing in those vouchers could provide a modest boost to the struggling PC industry, experts said Monday.

The vouchers can be used to buy a wide variety of computer hardware and software, and is not limited to Microsoft products.

They will be issued to individual consumers and businesses who bought Microsoft's operating system such as Windows 95 or Windows 98 ($16 voucher), productivity suites such as Office ($29 voucher), and word-processing or spreadsheet software such as Word ($5) or Excel ($26), said a lawyer in the case.

Those who bought new PCs loaded with those programs also qualify for the vouchers.

[gcutler]

This seems unmanageable? Especially for machines that have been sold. If I sold a machine to someone, where is the proof (front cover of manuals or potocopy of certificate? How many PCs were purchased in both personal and corporate from Feb 1995 thru Dec 2001. I had purchased 4 out of 5 that I no longer have (gave them away or sold them).

[Ryan]

Isn't it amazing that when we're owed something by big business , it's an 'opt-in' system, whereas when big business wants to take something from us (like personal information and sell it) or do something to us (like sales calls or spam faxes) it's an 'opt-out' system?

A government of the corporations, by the corporations, for the corporations.

Or...money talks and BS calls me during dinner!

[Jacob S]

And not everyone will use these vouchers therefore not costing Microsoft that much after all, I bet at least half the people will not use them.

[James_F]

Heck, I can't even remember if I bought anything. That and I don't really care.....