Microsoft writes $180 million cheque

SOFTWARE GIANT and convicted monopolist, Microsoft has written out a cheque to the people of Iowa after a seven year anti-trust battle.

According to the Des Moines Rogister, Vole's settlement of the class action will cost $180 million plus an extra $75 million for their legal bill.

The deal was approved by Polk County District Court Judge Scott Rosenberg. The Iowa class action was started by Des Moines lawyer Roxanne Conlin and others had accused Microsoft of anti-trust activities.

They claimed that Vole had boosted the price of the company's computer software. Payment of the claims is expected to begin sometime in autumn and more than 63,000 Iowans have filed claims so far.

Any money that is left over will go to local schools in the form of vouchers that can be used to buy computer gear.

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