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Microsoft Settles Iowa Antitrust Case

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the everyone-loves-to-hate dept.

ForestRangerBob writes "Comes v. Microsoft is over after Microsoft agreed to a settlement. The class action lawsuit alleged that Iowa consumers had been overcharged for Microsoft products for a decade owing to Microsoft's monopoly of the market. Predictably, the lawyers are about to get a big payday and 'the software giant will certainly be on the hook for millions of dollars, some of which may end up helping Iowa school kids. Average consumers will probably end up with a few bucks or a coupon for a free operating system upgrade, but the real winners will no doubt be the lawyers — the team prosecuting the case has already earned $60 million in legal fees from a 2004 case in Minnesota that charged Microsoft with similar offenses.'"

12 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. You're kidding, right? by Dunbal · · Score: 3, Funny

    Average consumers will probably end up with a few bucks or a coupon for a free operating system upgrade

          No, that's worth WAAAAAY too much. The consumers will get a free Microsft Vista (tm) mousepad.

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    1. Re:You're kidding, right? by Joebert · · Score: 2, Funny

      Oh, they'll get a free Vista upgrade alright...

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  2. The system works! by Iphtashu+Fitz · · Score: 3, Funny

    Not...

    Almost makes me wish I was a lawyer. Almost.

  3. wow by Billly+Gates · · Score: 5, Funny

    A coupon so Microsoft can increase sales of more copies of windows.

    Boy, that sure showed Microsoft.

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  4. Payoff to the Lawyers by ATestR · · Score: 5, Funny

    To be fair, the lawyers should have to take their cut in coupons for Microsoft products, just like everyone else will.

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    âoeAny society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.
  5. Bias against lawyers? by Biff98 · · Score: 2, Funny

    NAH! That's objective reporting at it's best. NO bias at ALL!

  6. Re:Bet the states are licking their chops now by truthsearch · · Score: 3, Funny

    But... but... it's the ultimate. No price is too high!

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  7. Re:Makes You Wonder by ChrisA90278 · · Score: 3, Funny
    I've been running for president under the "common sense" party for years. I can solve ALL problems with simple common sense. For example crime: As you say, it is better to PREVENT the crime. So simple common sense says to put people in jail BEFORE they commit the crime. Gosh how easy was that! I'm for the death penalty too. We should execute people before they can murder someone. Prevention, that's the way to go.

    I have other common sense solutions to all the other problems too.

  8. Re:Let's sue on behalf of Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    What printer do you have?

  9. Re:Class action lawsuits: welfare for lawyers by c0d3h4x0r · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just because something hasn't been reported on slashdot doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

    Well, shit. There goes my proof for the non-existence of God.

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  10. Re:Let's sue on behalf of Linux by dadragon · · Score: 3, Funny

    Did you try Google? http://www.linuxprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recn um=Okidata-C5300

    It's a postscript printer, you shouldn't need drivers. You do need a custom PPD file, though: http://europe.oki.com/fcgi-bin/public.fcgi?pid=6&c id=135&chid=10&pdflag=&prid=407&OSId=5&languageId= 1

    Both of those came from the printer's page on linux-printing.

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  11. Aren't we all the cynical ones by smchris · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Minnesota settlement got my wife and me a refurb Epson 2400 scanner, a cheap HP inkjet (both linux compatible) and three LinuxStore "Tux" keyboards from Cheapbytes.

    I'll take it. But, yes, I would rather be using IBM OS/4 HyperDrive today.