Microsoft Settles Massachusetts Antitrust Suit

krog writes "Boston.com is reporting that Microsoft has settled its antitrust suit in Massachusetts. The state was one of the last holdouts in the class action suit. The bounty? About $34 million, distributed among individuals (as opposed to businesses and government users). Not such a bad payoff, even if it is the scraps from Billy's table..."

Comments

34 Million is 34 Million

[tod_miller]

The best part is the precendent. I am sure that this will not stop further action being taken against M$ in the event that they do continue to damage other companies through delibrate anti-competative behaviour.

It is terrible that the European ruling on Microsoft has managed to be suspended, but lets hope the momentum can pass it through. It must be chaotic at Redmond.

*muahaha*cough*

I wonder, does Microsoft have a problem getting good employees? I would think that most developers worth their salt would work anywhere rather than for M$.

Re:34 Million is 34 Million

[justkarl]

No I meant more of the fact that there is a large anti-microsoft feeling in the up and coming IT talent, and this perhaps is a great threat to Microsoft.

Look, don't ban me for life from Slashdot for saying it; I mean, I like Linux as much as the next guy. But I think "up and coming" IT talent(A category I would put myself in) needs to understand and support both Linux and MS, because MS will remain to be a major market shareholder for a long time. But I'm sure Linux will grow into the mainstream, too(although it sort of already has).

Re:34 Million is 34 Million

[tod_miller]

No doubt about supporting Linux and MS, but working for them? I am just thinking that, although not everyone, there is a fairly large chunk of people who wouldn't work for Microsoft, and perhaps, not all of them, but many of them, are the top in their field.

A small perceptual slump in the number of people in certain skill areas not wanting to work for Microsoft would possibly have a noticible effect with the management, they might start 'opening sources' to the code.

To be honest, it is easier to look at MS Office, and see what it does, than to look at the code and see what it does.

Look to innovate, not immitate (OT but hey, it sounded good!)

$34M to Microsoft is not $34M to you or I.

[Bob_Robertson]

Re-read the article. $34M in PRODUCT.

That means that Microsoft gets to write off $300 for each of 120,000 copies of Office and XP Pro, while costing themselves $.50 for duplication and packaging of each CD.

That $34M is going to cost Microsoft about $60K, and then they will make millions when the software they gave away comes due for upgrade and replacement.

That's right, Microsoft Makes Money from their own prosecution!

Oh, it's good to be the Gates.

Bob-