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This week, we're seeing several developments that stand to have positive impacts on the technology industry and consumers.
RECENT SETTLEMENTS MOVE MICROSOFT CLOSER TO RESOLVING REMAINING ANTITRUST DISPUTES
Last month, Microsoft announced that the company has settled antitrust lawsuits with the State of West Virginia and class action plaintiffs in the state. These settlements jointly put the company one step closer to resolving all outstanding antitrust disputes. With this settlement, only one remaining litigating state - Massachusetts -- is appealing the U.S. District Court's Final Judgment in the historic federal antitrust case. In recent weeks, Microsoft has announced settlements of class action cases in several states, as well as a settlement with AOL Time Warner.
Read more about the antitrust settlements in West Virginia.
MICROSOFT FILES LAWSUITS TO STOP SPAM
Recently, Microsoft escalated its global campaign against unsolicited commercial e-mail, better known as "spam." The company filed 15 cases in the United States and the United Kingdom to help protect consumers against alleged spammers. The lawsuits allege that the defendants collectively are responsible for flooding Microsoft's customers and its systems with more than 2 billion deceptive unsolicited e-mail messages. This legal action represents just one step in a worldwide industry campaign to turn the tide against spam. Here at home, Congress is considering legislation that would levy strong federal penalties against those who misuse commercial e-mail.
Read more about Microsoft's antispam lawsuits.
IMPROVING THE CLASS ACTION SYSTEM
Both consumers and businesses have suffered from a class action lawsuit system in need of repair. Now nearing a Senate vote, the bipartisan "Class Action Fairness Act of 2003" (S.274) will greatly improve our nation's class action system. It strengthens consumer protections and streamlines the class action process by enabling multi-state lawsuits to be tried together in federal court.
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To keep up on policy issues and Microsoft news, visit the FIN Web site today.
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