Deadline Extended to Join $202 Million Florida Microsoft Settlement.

Business Editors/Legal Writers

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 26, 2003

Lightfoot, Franklin & White, attorneys representing the plaintiffs in the Florida Microsoft Products Settlement, today announced that the judge in the proceeding has indicated he will approve the $202 million settlement agreement entered into earlier this year. While the written order granting final approval to the agreement is pending, the plaintiffs' attorneys are urging businesses and individuals who may be eligible to join the settlement to file their claims as soon as possible.

The settlement includes both businesses and consumers who purchased stand-alone Microsoft software or computers loaded with Microsoft Operating Systems such as Windows or DOS and/or Microsoft applications such as Office, Word, or Excel, between November 1995 and December 2002. But with claims to be paid on a "per license basis," attorneys in the case say businesses with large numbers of computers stand to benefit greatly by participating in the settlement. Claims will be paid with vouchers worth $5 for each software product and $12 for each operating system purchased during the seven-year class period. The vouchers can be used to purchase PC hardware (Mac or Windows based) and most software that runs on pc computers (Mac or MS based).

The proposed $202 million settlement of the proceeding titled In Re Florida Microsoft Antitrust Litigation (Index number 99-27340 CA 11) is the result of class action lawsuits alleging that Microsoft violated Florida's antitrust and unfair competition laws. On April 15, 2003, the parties settled the case, and the court gave preliminary approval of a Settlement Agreement. Under the proposed agreement, half of any unclaimed portion of the settlement will be given to Florida's neediest schools, allowing them to purchase or upgrade computers and software.

"The originally projected claims deadline of December 24, 2003, has been extended, but we are suggesting that claims be submitted before the end of the year," said Robin Graves, of Birmingham-based Lightfoot, Franklin & White. "As we have said all along, our goal is to make sure that no eligible claimant leaves money on the table, particularly Florida businesses that hold multiple licenses for the products that were at issue in this case."

Businesses interested in submitting claims are urged to access claim forms electronically by visiting the settlement Website at www.microsoftproductssettlement.com/florida or contacting the settlement administrator for more information.

                       Settlement Administrator
                     Microsoft Florida Settlement
                             P.O. Box 3019
                        Portland, OR 97208-3019


  Kirby McInerney & Squire               Lightfoot, Franklin & White
      Dan Hume, Esq.                          Robin Graves, Esq.
     830 Third Avenue                        The Clarke Building
        Tenth Floor                         400 20th Street North
    New York, NY  10022                     Birmingham, AL  35203
      [phone]                           [phone]

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