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Few Takers For Microsoft's Settlement Cash

Posted by timothy on from the there-would-be-these-hoops-see-to-jump-through dept.

Makarand writes "According to this article on SiliconValley.com very few claims have been received to claim money from a Microsoft antitrust settlement in California. Only about 4% of the estimated 14 million eligible California consumers have bothered to file a claim till now. The deadline for filing claims is officially April 28 but is likely to be pushed back into May or June. Either, consumers have found the claims process too confusing, time-consuming and discouraging to keep them from making a claim or they are waiting till the last minute to file(like taxes). According to the settlement one-third of the unclaimed money will be kept by Microsoft and the rest will be given to Californian schools."

10 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. Conspiracy 2.0 by Thunderstruck · · Score: 4, Funny

    Or perhaps these folks are refraining because the fine print of the license for XP includes the following:

    "User agrees to indemnify Microsoft against any and all abuse of the legal system and will in no case whatsoever assist any governmnent, foreign or domestic, in levying sanctions against Microsoft."

    (I don't run it, but it wouldn't surprise me to see this in there.)

    --
    Trying to use sarcasm in text-based forums does not work.
  2. Why claim Microsoft's money? by Jugalator · · Score: 4, Funny

    Everyone knows that silly Monopoly money isn't real!

    --
    Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  3. Logically... by JC-Coynel · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well I guess the process is too long, to heavy and they have no guarantee to get anything in the end.

    I guess that's why those people don't apply security patches either!

    --JC

    --
    --JC
  4. Hello again Mr. Troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sheez - let's see if this gets modded up ...

    Note the following things:

    1) The post is grammatically and syntactically deranged.

    2) The post makes no attempt to justify its assertion.

    3) The 'quote' is missing a word, something that's unlikely to happen if it was real, since the poster would have copy-pasted it.

  5. Silly Me! by malia8888 · · Score: 2, Funny
    From the article Critics have charged that the claims process -- agreed to by a court -- is confusing and time-consuming, discouraging participation.

    Confusing? discouraging? time-consuming? Oh, this refers to the claims process. I thought they were talking about Windows OS's. Silly me!

    --
    Harpo Tunnel Syndrome--my wrist feels funny.
  6. Re:Needed: expanded moderation choices by BgJonson79 · · Score: 2, Funny

    If it's in his will, I don't think he'll get much of a tax benefit from it ;-)

    --

    There are four boxes used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order.

  7. Re:Good. by jimicus · · Score: 2, Funny

    and/or a silly mascot that people will remember.

    Good idea! Hmm, let me think... maybe an animal of some sort. A tiger? A sealion?

    GOT IT. A penguin.

  8. Re:Really? by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 4, Funny
    Does anyone really think Redmond is just going to happily dispose of their $$$ and make it easy to do so at the same time?
    Que Clippy: "It looks like you are trying to file a claim against Microsoft. Would you like to
    - Call a service rep to help you fill out your claim form 26B/6? (0.99c / minute)
    - Have your legs broken by Steve Balmer?
    - Have your claim paid out in Windows ME licenses at their retail dollar value?
    - All of the above?
    --
    If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
  9. I just had to by mericet · · Score: 2, Funny

    1) buy M$ stock
    2) post a /. comment suggesting others do the same
    3) profit

    --
    http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html
  10. Damned MS Conspiracy... by pigeon768 · · Score: 3, Funny
    Of course, the claims form is "best viewed" in Adobe Acrobat 6.0.

    Which doesn't run on linux. Which means I'll have to go out, buy Windows and download Adobe Acrobat 6.0.

    Bastards! They got me everwhere I turn!