abdemarco Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 Hi all, If you purchased a computer with Windows, DOS, Office, Word or Excel between 1998 and 2010, or any of those items as a standalone product, you may be eligible to receive money from a class-action settlement. Here is a CBC article about the settlement (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/canada-class-action-settlement-microsoft-1.5840305): ------------------------------------------------ One of the largest class-action settlements in Canada could be worth money in your pocket. And depending on the size of your claim, you may not need to provide proof of purchase. Unlike some other class-action lawsuits that require reams of paperwork, the application process is easy. "We did our best to make it really simple," said Naomi Kovak, a Vancouver lawyer with Camp Fiorante Matthews Morgerman LLP, one of the firms administering the settlement stemming from a lawsuit alleging anti-competitive behaviour against Microsoft. The settlement, which is capped at $517 million, amounts to an estimated $400 million for consumers after legal fees and expenses are deducted. Since the application period opened on Nov. 23, Kovak said, more than 100,000 people in Canada have filed claims. Claims can be filed via a website, ThatSuiteMoney.ca. The agreement allows consumers in Canada, without receipts, to claim up to $250 for their Microsoft PC software, such as Windows, Office, Word, Excel or MS-DOS, purchased between Dec. 23, 1998 and March 11, 2010. "That's in recognition that not very many people are going to have proof of purchase going back to products they purchased in 1998," Kovak said. Consumers who purchased a Dell desktop computer, with a Microsoft operating system and an Office suite, during the years specified in the settlement can make a claim for each of those products, she said. Microsoft agrees to settlement but denies wrongdoing The class-action lawsuit alleged that Microsoft and Microsoft Canada were involved in a conspiracy to illegally increase prices for the company's products. Microsoft agreed to the settlement but denies any wrongdoing and has not admitted liability. The settlement in Canada has been a long time coming: The first documents in the case were filed in British Columbia in 2005. The class action was also filed in Ontario and Quebec, but the court in B.C. took the lead. The settlement was approved in the B.C. Supreme Court in 2018, and courts in the other provinces also issued their approval. It applies to people in all provinces and territories. Kovak said that in the 1980s and '90s, Microsoft was "very dominant" in the world of personal computer software. The class-action lawsuit alleged that Microsoft and Microsoft Canada were involved in a conspiracy to illegally increase prices for the company's products. Canadians have until Sept. 23, 2021 to file a claim under the court-approved settlement. (Jeff Chiu/The Associated Press) "They got in trouble in the U.S. with the Department of Justice for what was said to be anti-competitive conduct, and that is the same conduct that was at issue in this lawsuit," she said. The breakdown for consumer payments was approved by the courts. People with MS-DOS and Windows operating systems can claim $13. Those with the Microsoft Office productivity suite are eligible for $8, while consumers with Excel, Word and applications other than Office can claim $6.50. While the dollar amounts are small, it's possible people purchased multiple computers over the time period covered by the settlement. Consumers can file a separate claim for each of the software applications on each desktop or laptop that used eligible Microsoft products. Applicants must also submit a sworn declaration that the claim is accurate. For individuals with a claim of more than $250, proof of purchase is required for any amount over that figure. Companies that bought software licences in volume can file claims of up to $650 without receipts, although any claim above that amount must include proof of purchase. Claims open for 9 months Since the settlement was approved in 2018, a number of details have had to be worked out, including hiring an administrator, determining the claims process and producing advertisements as a way to notify the public. Canadians are being made aware of the settlement through radio, TV and internet ads, as well as web banners. They have until Sept. 23, 2021 to file a claim. After that date, the administrator will begin to send out cheques to individuals and vouchers to those who bought the software licences in bulk. Court-approved legal fees of roughly $100 million will be deducted from the settlement, as will the cost of ads. When approving the settlement and fee arrangement in 2018, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Elliott Myers said it applies to "virtually any non-Apple personal computer user since 1998." After the claims are paid, some elementary and high schools, as well as post-secondary institutions, in Canada will be able to claim vouchers to purchase software with any remaining money from the settlement. The agreement says schools with students from kindergarten to Grade 12 will be prioritized based on those that "are underserved and/or would benefit from increased student access to computer learning." Any money that isn't claimed will be returned to Microsoft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 No. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnkNuk Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 49 minutes ago, abdemarco said: Any money that isn't claimed will be returned to Microsoft. I was thinking of putting in a claim but, dammit, Bill needs the money. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldoescobar Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 $117M to lawyers and $250 to the average joe/Jane... lol 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drummer4now Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 (edited) 30 minutes ago, UnkNuk said: I was thinking of putting in a claim but, dammit, Bill needs the money. I think Bill has enough money.. 3 minutes ago, Ronaldoescobar said: $117M to lawyers and $250 to the average joe/Jane... lol I am starting to think life is just a giant pyramid scheme. I am assuming the OP saw the tv commercial or ads on the internet before posting this? Anyway I signed up because hey it is free money. Edited December 16, 2020 by drummer4now 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewbieCanuckFan Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 "People with MS-DOS and Windows operating systems can claim $13." 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 Can I make claims on illegal torrents and cracked product keys? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_Cathode Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 1 hour ago, Ronaldoescobar said: $117M to lawyers and $250 to the average joe/Jane... lol Ah c’mon, lawyers had no interest in this claim decided by ex-lawyers. I have to confess that I willingly bought the software as opposed to their competitors and that I bought it because I thought it was a better deal. By the way, does anyone know who administers this program and what they will manage to gain by it? If it wasn’t for Microsoft going into the propaganda business, I would never have considered applying for this claim, but now I want to deprive them of every nickel possible. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuckin_futz Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 Feds really turning up the heat on Microsoft......... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush17 Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 Microsoft has done enough to enhance all of our lives lol. Why on earth is this even a thing? Why can't they mark their $&!# up? I am confused how its illegal to set the price for your product. can someone fill me in lol. I am missing something here clearly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Money Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 I signed up today. Bought 2 PCs and an Office suite in the time period, so am getting $36. Sure, not much, but didn't take long, and better in my pocket than Microsoft's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckylager Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 Sweet, so I get to basically fill out an online survey with my personal information for like $45. Totally worth it...... Huge win for the lawyers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
24K PureCool Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 These class actions always seems to not benefit the regular Joe/Jane much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckylager Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 Just now, 24K PureCool said: These class actions always seems to not benefit the regular Joe/Jane much. The point is to hold corporations accountable for their business practices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
24K PureCool Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 2 minutes ago, luckylager said: The point is to hold corporations accountable for their business practices. Agreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortorella's Rant Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 10 minutes ago, luckylager said: The point is to hold corporations accountable for their business practices. I guess? Not even half of a percent of their total revenue this lawsuit is. It's a big fat joke in that regard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckylager Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 7 minutes ago, Tortorella's Rant said: I guess? Not even half of a percent of their total revenue this lawsuit is. It's a big fat joke in that regard Yeah you're totally right actually. 500m is pennies to them. I want at least $450 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down by the River Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 Can't wait to get my claim "no sooner than early 2022". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_Cathode Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 4 hours ago, Rush17 said: Microsoft has done enough to enhance all of our lives lol. Why on earth is this even a thing? Why can't they mark their $&!# up? I am confused how its illegal to set the price for your product. can someone fill me in lol. I am missing something here clearly. Well, they did steal other people’s copyrighted technology, such as doublespace quite liberally. That failed to make Doublespace’s life better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patel Bure Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 This is ridiculous. Microsoft has done nothing but enhance the lives of billions. And this is the thanks that they get? Ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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