Redmond, Nov 07: Microsoft Corp. will provide vouchers of up to $89 million for North Carolina consumers to settle that state's class-action antitrust lawsuit against the software company. Microsoft announced the settlement last month, but had not disclosed its details until yesterday. North Carolina's class-action lawsuit, and others filed by additional states on behalf of consumers, alleged that Microsoft violated the states' antitrust and unfair competition laws.

The settlement, approved last week by the North Carolina business court, covers North Carolina residents who bought Microsoft's Windows operating system, office business software or its spreadsheet or word processing software from Dec. 9, 1995, to Dec. 31, 2002.

Microsoft will provide up to $89 million worth of vouchers to consumers for buying personal computers, any publicly available software and other devices.

Including the North Carolina case, Microsoft has now settled class-action suits in nine states and Washington DC.
Customer class-action suits are still pending in Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico and Wisconsin.

Microsoft shares gained 13 cents yesterday to close at $26.23 on the Nasdaq stock market
Bureau Report