Details of Microsoft's Settlement With Iowa

dringess writes "As reported on Yahoo, Microsoft has settled the suit brought by the State of Iowa. Individuals can collect $16 for each copy of MS-DOS or Windows purchased from 1994-2006, while Office nets $29. No proof of purchase required! Now I can finally get some money from Microsoft!" Here is our original coverage of the settlement.

Settle != guilty

[psaunders]

Now remember kids, the mere action of settling does not technically constitute any kind of admission on Microsoft's part. More accurately, the state of Iowa caught Microsoft and their lawyers on a day when they were feeling generous.

In all seriousness though, how does something like this happen? Will other states follow suit (pun partially intended) for similar benefits?

Re:Hey, they got off quite cheaply

[maxume]

If Microsoft has monopoly power, they ain't equivalents. If they are equivalents, Microsoft ain't got a monopoly.

Re:Hey, they got off quite cheaply

[644bd346996]

Well, Microsoft has had a monopoly for far longer than any free operating system has been on par with desktop features. In the early and mid 90's, Microsoft was a monopoly. Microsoft has retained that monopoly even in the face of competition by erecting artificial barriers to switching away from MS. Microsoft has abused their monopoly position by willfully making it harder for users to migrate their data (and, to a lesser extent, programs) to other systems.

Because Microsoft has control over the data formats and protocols their products use, they are able to unfairly take away consumer freedom of choice.

MS PR ploy

[krbvroc1]

"Under the settlement, Microsoft will provide half of any unclaimed proceeds to the Iowa Department of Education to bridge the digital and technical divide in Iowa schools through the purchase of computer hardware and software."

Great...So the next generation can suffer too... This settlement is nothing more than an MS backdoor into the school system. Why use OSX or Linux when we have a pile of MS stuff here in this box...
100,000 copies of XP which will do longer be supported Dec 2008 anyone?

Re:Microsoft getting out easy...

[Eric Damron]

How is the parent post "off topic?"

He raises a good point. If part of the deal is you must produce the original license most people probably won't be able to do so. Microsoft would be getting off REALLY cheap.

As a resident of Iowa

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm going to claim the money I am eligible for (two Windows and two copies of Office on two Dell laptops I bought) plus I'm going to claim the money the restaurant/bar I'm part owner of (5 copies of Windows and one copy of Office on the cash register computers and the server that runs them)

I'm also going to tell everyone I know about the site once it is up and make sure they go there and claim the money they are entitled to and tell them to tell their friends, etc. If word gets around and this is publicized enough on the local news which it really ought to be as it is free money for a couple minutes of work, hopefully there won't BE any unclaimed money.

I'm From Iowa, So...

[Slurgi]

The question now is how do I file to get my refund? Is there any website with any sort of directions?