Six California counties and cities on Friday filed a
class action lawsuit against Microsoft accusing the software giant
of violating California law with anti-competitive business
practices.
"Microsoft violated the California Business and Professions code
by basically monopolising the marketplace for personal computers
sold to the government," said Alexis Truchan, a spokeswoman for the
San Francisco attorney general's office.
The lawsuit seeks the recovery of unspecified monetary damages,
Truchan said.
The counties of Santa Clara, Los Angeles, San Mateo, and Contra
Costa joined the City of Los Angeles and the City and County of San
Francisco in filing the lawsuit.
The lawsuit is similar to an earlier class action suit filed by
California consumers and settled in January 2003, Truchan said.
"The consumer lawsuit restricted government entities from joining
that class action, so there was a need to refile where government
could be included," she said.
Under terms of the 2003 settlement, Microsoft agreed to provide
$1.1bn in vouchers to California consumers who purchased Microsoft
products between 1995 and 2001.
Microsoft was unable to provide detailed comment on the lawsuit
because its legal team had not yet had an opportunity to review the
complaint, said Microsoft.
"We firmly believe that we have provided very competitive prices
and great solutions to our customers," it said.
Robert McMillan writes for IDG News Service