[Cialug] Microsoft Lawsuit etc and so forth

[Josh More]

A group of us were talking over lunch about the Microsoft settlement.  I
know that some companies are pursuing this and others are ignoring it
due to complexities.  I thought I'd share some of what I've recently
learned in the hopes that it would help others.

0) It covers Windows, Dos, Office, Word, Excel, Works, and "Home
Essentials" that are sold FOR USE IN IOWA.  It doesn't matter where you
bought them, just where you use them.

1) Both home users and businesses are affected.  

2) If you're a home user, you get nice happy cash from Microsoft.  To
claim over $100 you need proof of purchase and/or license codes.

3) If you're a business user, you don't get cash.  You get product
vouchers instead.

4) If you're a business user, you can have Microsoft scan your eOpen
account and send you the appropriate vouchers.  This, of course, would
entail you to trust the company sending you money to accurately scan and
report the data on you that they are holding.  Hands up, everyone who
trusts Microsoft.

Here is where it gets interesting

5) OEM products are included, so if you bought a PC and got Windows or
Office with it, you can claim it.

6) The registered user gets to claim the money, so if you re-purchased
a machine you're out of luck.  However, if you sold or threw away a
machine... since 1994... you're covered.  (Good luck finding the codes
though).

7) "Microsoft Products" means "non-custom software that can be
installed on a desktop, laptop, or tablet PC" as well as "a new desktop,
laptop, or tablet PC" and "printers, scanners, keyboards, monitors, and
pointing devices".

8) "Microsoft Products" does not cover Microsoft training, sorry.

So, in a nutshell, cash is king, but you can take the MS vouchers and
buy brand new shiny hardware with them.  That's hardware that costs MS
money as opposed to their software that really doesn't.  That's cool
right?

.
.
.

Also, remember a while ago when Microsoft signed a deal with Novell? 
That one where Microsoft can offer copies of Novell Linux through their
existing sales arm?  Think that counts as "non-custom software that can
be installed on a desktop, laptop, or tablet PC"?  The folks at
Microsoft didn't have a good answer for me, but if you get a voucher,
please give it a whirl.  I'd love to know.

If you want to have the fun of talking of Microsoft lawyer people, you
too can call 1-877-477-0960.  If you're a business, you will want to hit
'9' after dialing.

Enjoy,




-Josh More, RHCE, CISSP, NCLP, GIAC 
 morej at alliancetechnologies.net 
 515-245-7701