Minnesota Consumers Begin To Receive Vouchers in the Minnesota Microsoft Antitrust Settlement

Richard Hagstrom and Daniel Hume, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the Minnesota Microsoft antitrust lawsuit, announced today that over $3.5 million in vouchers were distributed to over 57,000 Minnesota consumers on Monday.

Over 110,000 claims were submitted by Minnesota consumer and businesses and are being processed by the Clams Administrator. Of the claims processed to date, the average consumer claim is worth $82 in vouchers while the average large business claim is worth over $100,000 in vouchers.

“Yesterday’s distribution was the first in what will be several large distributions this year,” explained attorney Hagstrom. The rest of the consumer vouchers will be distributed by the beginning of October and vouchers to large businesses will be distributed by the end of the year. “We are pleased to provide this valuable benefit and based upon the positive response we are receiving from consumers and businesses here in Minnesota, we know that these vouchers will be put to good use,” added attorney Hagstrom.

The Settlement requires Microsoft to make available to class members up to $174.5 million in vouchers that may be used to purchase new desktop computers, laptops, tablet computers, pre-packaged software, printers, scanners, monitors, keyboards and pointing devices from any manufacturer, not just Microsoft products. One-half of the value of the unclaimed vouchers will be distributed to Minnesota’s public schools. In addition, Microsoft provided a $2.5 million cash payment and $2.5 million in vouchers to the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology for technology development purposes and $2.5 million in cash to the Minnesota Legal Aid Fund.

Class members can exchange their vouchers for cash by submitting proof of purchases made after July 1, 2004 of the following computer products: Any desktop, laptop, or tablet computer made by any manufacturer for any operating system platform, or any of the following devices: printers, scanners, monitors, keyboards, or pointing devices (e.g. mouse, trackball). Qualifying software includes any non-custom software offered by any software vendor for use on a desktop, laptop or tablet computer. The qualifying computer hardware or software does not have to be a Microsoft product. After submitting proof of purchase to the Claims Administrator with their voucher, a check will be sent to the Class Member for the amount of their purchase (up to the value of the voucher).

Class Members have until February 23, 2009, to purchase a product and submit the voucher and receipt to the Claims Administrator for reimbursement. One hundred percent of the value of issued but unredeemed vouchers will be distributed to Minnesota’s public schools. Consumers or businesses with questions about how to redeem a voucher or the settlement can call the Claims Administrator at 1-800-928-1638 or visit the Court-approved Settlement website, www.microsoftMNsettlement.com.