You can now file a claim to get in on the payout from the state’s lawsuit against Microsoft. The state settled the antitrust case against the computer giant in February about three months after the trial got underway. Microsoft agreed to a settlement that will pay out nearly 180-million dollars to consumers and businesses.
Lindsey Davis, a spokesperson for one of the law firms that represented the state, says it’s easy to tell if you are eligible for a claim. She says anyone in Iowa that had purchased Microsoft product such as Word, Excel and Office from 1994 through June of 2006 is eligible. Davis says it’s simple to make a claim.
Davis says there are a variety of ways to file a claim, with the easiest method being on-line at: www.iowamicrosoftcase.com . She says you can get the forms to fill out and mail in or your can file a claim on-line. Davis says the settlement allows you to file for up to 200 dollars by simply filling in the types of software you had purchased. Davis says that’s the nice thing about this settlement, you don’t need a receipt, you just have to write down the name of the product and where you think you bought it from.
Davis says individuals will be paid with a check, but for businesses things are different. Davis says larger businesses often entered into a volume agreement where they purchased hundreds of copies of software. Those businesses will be paid with vouchers. Davis says it will be awhile before all the checks are sent out. She says the settlement is scheduled for a hearing on final approval in August, and as soon as that happens and any appeals are settled, the checks will be mailed out. Claims will be accepted into December.