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Microsoft Settles Suit with Wisconsin

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

October 20, 2006, 4:07 PM

A Wisconsin state court said Friday that it had begun to alert Wisconsin consumers and businesses that are eligible for compensation through a proposed settlement in a class action suit against Microsoft. Those eligible purchased software between December 7, 1993 and April 30, 2003.

The Redmond company is accused of violating state laws by overcharging for its operating system, word processing, and spreadsheet software. The settlement is quite similar to one reached with the state of California in July 2003, which began disbursing vouchers in July.

Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft may be liable to pay as much as $223.9 million to Wisconsin residents. As with California, the payments would be provided in the form of vouchers, which can be used to purchase computer equipment from any manufacturer.

A hearing has been scheduled for March 30 of next year in order to decide whether or not to approve the settlement. The deadline for any objections has been set for February 13, and claims must be filed by June 30 or thirty days following approval, whichever its later, the court said.

Both current and former Wisconsin residents can call a toll-free number, 1-800-598-3050, or visit microsoftwisuit.com to obtain claim forms and learn more about the settlement.

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By agog

edited Oct 22, 2006 - 10:55 PM

I Purchased Microsoft Flight Simulator on the 18th of October. I have been trying to Activate the program ever since with no luck. I have call Microsoft support,1-800-537-8324 and spent hours on the phone for the last couple of days. To this time I have still been unable to activate FSX Deluxe Edition. This program cost me $70.00 and all I can do is play 30 Demo.

Really upset
Bob
1-701 286-6253

Score: 0

By CMSTech

posted Oct 23, 2006 - 5:12 PM

ummmm, I don't think Microsoft is going to read this post, shouldn't you be calling someone else there?

Or there is always the option to return the software.....I would have done that before spending "hours" on the phone.

Score: 0

By The Man

posted Oct 24, 2006 - 1:34 AM

"I don't think Microsoft is going to read this post"

i wouldn't bet on that.
:-)

Score: 0

By TC17

posted Oct 22, 2006 - 2:03 PM

Microsoft has a monopoly on the operating system. And yes it is a monopoly.

As for overcharging customers, its just another way to word "stealing from customers". And yes, thats exactly what it is whether the fanboys want to believe it or not.

Microsoft has been convicted of this crime now in several states.

Score: 0

By skags442

posted Oct 23, 2006 - 11:10 AM

how is a monopoly ? last time i checked they arnt the only OS out there.

Score: 0

By tirpider

posted Oct 22, 2006 - 9:28 AM

this will help MS lower their pricing, I'm sure of it.

Score: 0

By zridling

posted Oct 20, 2006 - 11:47 PM

Now if only we could sue the government for overcharging us on taxes!

Score: 0

By PostDeals

posted Oct 20, 2006 - 11:44 PM

If I had a choice of something else then I wouldn't use MS of course not but that time I had no choice and they overcharged and were monopolizing the market with their product only.

Score: 0

By alphatrigon

posted Oct 20, 2006 - 5:19 PM

to me, and only in my humble opinion (and please forgive my punctuation errors and if I don't use caps where neccessary), this is just odd.

If someone wants to take a piece of cardboard and sells it for hmm, say anywhere from 10 centts or $500, shouldn't it be there decision? And if people think it's too much or just the right price...they'd buy it right?

again, just opinion, ignore if you don't agree or just post your opinion.

I respect all people :)

Score: 0

By cranbers

edited Oct 21, 2006 - 7:25 AM

You can sell a piece of card board for 500 dollars but if its just as worthless as that wouldn't that be wrong? Now imagine there is only one card board maker? They can charge 500 dollars if they so choose with no one else putting pressure on cost. There might be paper makers which is like linux or mac os x. But you need card board. This is where the problem comes in at. Now microsoft charges anywhere from 99 dollars to 300 dollars for basic desktop os's. I know I have had to buy several copies over the last 5 years because of microsoft's restriction on reusing licenses. It's rediculous especially when it comes to office prices.

Why does it cost hundreds of dollars? Because they can charge that. People think they need it. With no education on the subject only word of mouth is spreading the word that free or alternative products exist. People think linux is too complicated a geek os. But yet they have no clue that it looks just like windows in the gui interface and wouoldnt even know the difference or that open office would do all basic word processing and spreadsheets without any problems. This is the home user we are talking about here not a heavy duty office/corporate user that has special advanced microsoft needs. They know the names microsoft Windows, office and intel processors and will buy according to those names. Simply because they do not know better or even what else is out there.

Firefox is a perfect example of a product gaining market share simply because it is so great. Now if linux and openoffice.org can be spread the same way then microsoft will be in a hurting position and have to rethink its pricing. But in the mean time they are going to milk the public, corporate and government sector for all they possibly can by any means necessary. To even go so far now as to not make transferring a retail license of vista transferable to a new system 1 time only. That means buying a new license for each and every computer you buy or upgrade thereafter. So here is what happens when one single bone head entity like Microsoft has 90 some percent share of the desktop os market. Unethical behavior, high prices, crappy products (ie for example) and lets not forget pure laziness and greed.

Score: 0

By mhochman

posted Oct 21, 2006 - 9:30 AM

Just to reinforce your point, I run an Internet Cafe, we have 30 computers, 25 running Linux, 5 Running Windows. 99% of the customers dont even realise they are not using windows when they sit down at the linux machines. If they come across something that doesn't work, and i move them saying "well that wont work because this is not windows" they are Shocked and Awed that they were not using windows, many ask me how much the OS costs and consider using it at home. (when i say that it's Free, their jaws hit the floor)

Score: 0

By cranbers

edited Oct 22, 2006 - 5:52 AM

Yeah thats a great success story. I have no doubt linux saved you a ton of money too. Odds are you rarely have problems. Users can't download virus or worms from email and the web. It has firefox and a word processor compatible with ms's word. Locking them out of root is already done inherently so. It looks just like windows right down to the start menu in the left corner. Buy a basic computer a few years old. Download a single linux distro on a disc or make several. Install them on the 30 machines, no licenseing to worry about or keys. No extra software to download because most drivers will be install during setup including the network card.

so you can't lose perfect system for what you have going. If something gets botched, reload linux from scratch off the cd. There goes your support cost staying at 0.

So on windows xp alone, lets say you bought oem copies of home edition thats 80-90 dollars a piece times 25, thats a quick 2200 dollars in your pocket and out of ms's. Now think about the saved antivirus software cost and headaches in that area saved from.

Score: 0

By mhochman

posted Oct 22, 2006 - 10:24 AM

You are exactly right, WE have a 2 disc install set, so when something does go wrong its quick to reinstall (although i keep several backup drives ready to just pop in with the OS already loaded)

I wont say its 100% without problems, as there are still some things you need windows for, some customers use propriatary stuff that reqires IE, but for the most part, Linux works very well for us, we've been doing it this way for 4 years now.

And support cost isn't $0, because tourists can screw up on any OS, be it linux, windows or MacOS. the only way to make a computer foolproof, is to remove the fool. But it does make life easy, lets my employees focus their time on the customers rather than the computers.

Score: 0

By saint.alpha

posted Oct 20, 2006 - 6:08 PM

The only problem is those who do pay for it, use formats that makes everyone else have to pay for it.. So no matter what, they get their money..

Score: 0

By Turge

edited Oct 21, 2006 - 5:10 PM

Someone should sue Nike, Ferarri, Gucci, Rolex, etc. for overcharging too.

Who cares if they are superior products, or how much they spend in R&D (Research and Development), they shouldn't be allowed to overcharge.

This ruling is a joke. All of the points made here so far are a joke. Seriously, you should be able to charge as much as you want for the product. If you don't want it, don't buy it. Why is MS responsible for users not knowing about the other products?

Another joke: "The only problem is those who do pay for it, use formats that makes everyone else have to pay for it.. "

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Oct 22, 2006 - 11:17 PM

It's called a monopoly and abuse of monopolistic power is a crime in just about any OECD country.

The cardboard example above is a very good way to describe the situation - you need some cardboard, but it's $500 to get some. There are no other suppliers of cardboard. Should that company be charging you $500 for something that costs them a few cents to make?

Score: 0

By Grazer

posted Oct 23, 2006 - 2:40 AM

Of course, there is free cardboard down the street. It has a bunch of penguin pictures on it, but it is free. What? You wanted a cardboard box? Well, you could make one out of the free cardboard, or the cardboard seller includes box making in the price of his cardboard. You expected him to tell you about the free cardboard? Why? Do you even know how to make a box?

Score: 0

By The Man

posted Oct 24, 2006 - 1:46 AM

the free ones not cardboard, it's plastic. it doesn't do all the same stuff the cardboard does. difficult to make a box from.

Score: 0

By cranbers

posted Oct 22, 2006 - 5:42 AM

Im sorry aren't those products high quality and have a ton of competition and can charge that simply because they are luxery? Can you chose to not buy a ferrari? If you don't buy a ferrari can you still buy gas for your honda civic? See now you don't buy microsoft's expensive os, games and majority of all popular third party apps go with it. Linux is great for basic web browsing, basic word processing etc but microsoft makes sure to keep those companies poor but word will get out eventually. What about Rolex? Now rolex is similiar to sun microsystems. Rare, very expensive.

The computer industry is not like watches or shoes or even hobbies anymore. Computers run the world, Microsoft for the most part runs our home desktops and work computers. So point is microsoft needs to be monitored, sued and put in its place. It knows the position its in, and its sad tha we all put them there. Application developers go for the platform most used. Users go for the platform that is put on them and that has the most software available. Oem builders do the same thing so it is all a vicious cycle. But someone will have a break through with linux and it will become easier to use even in the advanced area and things will start to change. For now though, microsoft has everything in its favor and they know it. 235 million in vouchers, is it a check? Is it a coupon? Does microsoft keep all money not claimed?

Score: 0

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