Microsoft Corp.’s proposal to settle civil lawsuits by donating what the company claimed would be a billion dollars’ worth of products, cash, and services has been rejected by U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz.
Microsoft proposed the donation of refurbished computers, as well as software and services that would be largely Windows-compatible only. Although no specific requirements were put on what computers to buy, many sources, including Apple, were outspoken in their opposition to the plan. Critics claimed that Microsoft’s beneficence would influence academic system administrators to buy PC-compatible computers rather than Macs.
Motz issued a 19 page ruling in which he called Microsoft’s proposal “thinly veiled” and agreed with Apple and others that Microsoft’s proposal might give the company an unfair advantage in the K-12 market.
Motz suggested that if Microsoft put up the equivalent cash to create a fund in which it would be an equal competitor with other software companies, the settlement might be acceptable.
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