[Discussioni] Newsscan

[Francesco Potorti`]

MICROSOFT TO SETTLE PRIVATE SUITS WITH LARGE DONATION
Microsoft has tentatively agreed to a five-year, $1.7-billion project to 
provide more than 14,000 low-income schools with computer hardware and 
software in exchange for the resolution of most of its pending private 
class-action lawsuits. Under the terms hammered out, Microsoft would 
provide software worth about $900 million and would be responsible for 
making available 200,000 reconditioned computers and laptops, in addition 
to $90 million for teacher training and $38 million for tech support. It 
would also provide up to $250 million to set up an independent foundation 
to meet project goals and would donate $160 million to set up a program 
that teaches students how to repair and service computers and networks. The 
deal is opposed by some of the class-action lawyers, who won't receive fees 
tied to the size of the settlement, but rather will be paid a 
court-dictated amount. Ironically, if the settlement is approved, 
Microsoft's brand name will gain even greater presence in the nation's 
schools, but lawyers decided the company's products were so pervasive 
already, that it would have little additional influence on schoolchildren 
who would have to learn how to use Microsoft software anyway in college or 
the workplace. (Wall Street Journal 20 Nov 2001)
http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB100620819483928840.htm (sub req'd)