A Des Moines man and a Burlington business have won one round in their battle against a computer giant. Joe Comes of Des Moines and Riley Paint, Incorporated, of Burlington sued Microsoft on behalf of individuals and businesses who bought computers loaded with the company’s software. The lawsuit claims Microsoft acted like an illegal monopoly from 1994 to 2001 and “artificially inflated the cost of its products.” Microsoft appealed, charging that the Des Moines man and the Burlington business didn’t have the legal standing to represent “classes” of individuals and businesses. This is, by the way, a “class action” lawsuit which seeks damages for everyone and every business who bought computers loaded with Microsoft software during that seven year period. The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled against Microsoft, though, which means the lawsuit can proceed in a lower court.
