Mississippi Reaches $100M Microsoft Settlement

June 12 2009

Mississippi has reached a multi-million dollar anti-trust settlement with Microsoft.

The settlement order, worth up to $100 million, between the State of Mississippi and Microsoft was approved by Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Denise Owens today and settles claims stemming from a suit filed by Attorney General Hood in 2004. Microsoft has settled suits in 21 states. This is the largest cash payment made to a state government.
The amount to be paid by Microsoft will be broken down as follows:

. $40 million will be paid to the State of Mississippi within 40 days

. (up to) $60 million in hardware/software vouchers will be provided to consumers, businesses, all county/local/municipal government entities, public schools and public school districts. 

. (up to) $8 million will be paid to the State of Mississippi if all vouchers are not
claimed

All Mississippi residents, businesses, county/local governments or schools that purchased Microsoft products or computers containing Microsoft products between January 1, 1996 and today will be eligible to receive a voucher of $12 or $5 (depending on which products were purchased). The vouchers can be used towards the purchase of any software or hardware product.

Software qualifying for $12 vouchers includes: Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows ME. The software qualifying for $5 vouchers includes: Application Products (i.e. Office, Word, Excel), MS-DOS, Windows 1.xx-3.xx Windows for Workgroups, Windows NT Workstation, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

A claims administrator will attempt to notify all purchasers, review voucher claims, and distribute vouchers. Individuals claiming to have purchased Microsoft software or a computer containing Microsoft software will have to send a sworn statement verifying the purchase. Most high volume purchasers, such as businesses, local governments and schools, will have a licensing agreement to verify purchases.

“I hope all Mississippi residents, businesses, schools county and local governments will obtain a voucher for each computer or Microsoft software they purchased and use the voucher(s) as a discount on the purchase of any type of software or hardware,” said Attorney General Hood. “Additionally, the money that will be going into the state coffers will really help in this economically challenged time.” General Hood further stated, “I now look forward to working with Microsoft on helping us on two of my most passionate issues: stopping intellectual property theft and cyber child pornography.”

“Microsoft is pleased to reach this resolution with the State of Mississippi and with our customers in Mississippi,” said Steve Aeschbacher, Microsoft Associate General Counsel. “We look forward to working with the State on issues of mutual concern going forward.”