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Microsoft Settles Class-Action Lawsuit in Minnesota

Microsoft is moving to settle a class-action antitrust lawsuit with consumers in Minnesota, one of a handful of remaining states where Microsoft has not yet settled lawsuits alleging the company abused its desktop OS monopoly to overcharge for software.

Microsoft issued a brief statement on Monday announcing that a settlement has been reached with lawyers for the Minnesota Settlement Class. "The parties have reached an agreement to resolve all claims in this litigation. The settlement will be presented to the court for preliminary approval in early summer of 2004," the statement read.

Terms were not made public. Plaintiffs attorneys had originally sought damages up to $425 million.

The settlement comes as part of a busy period for Microsoft's legal negotiators. The company recently reached a $2 billion settlement with Sun Microsystems and a $440 million patent infringement settlement with InterTrust Technologies.

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.

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