In response to a $1.1 billion California class-action settlement with Microsoft that provides vouchers for purchasers of Windows, competitor Lindows tried to streamline the claims process for consumers with software provided on their site MSFreePC.com. A view of the Lindows service in action can be seen here (courtesy Google):
A California judge has now sided with Microsoft in ruling that the wizard-type claims process run by MSFreePC.com violated the claims process agreed upon by Microsoft and the plaintiffs, and the service must be shut down. Without the service, users will have to file paperwork, available at
the official claim site, in order to have their claim honored. Lindows, a Windows competitor, is based on the Linux operating system, a free, open-source alternative to Windows. AP has
more.
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
