08.10.09
Microsoft Pays Fines in Vouchers — Not Money — to Wisconsin Schools, Takes Over More Nigerian Schools
Madison, Wisconsin
Summary: New information about Microsoft abuse and schools
THE settlement with Wisconsin schools was mentioned here before, but based on this new report, these schools have not seen any money yet. In fact, they never will. In the United States, Microsoft has found comfort in so-called ‘punishments’ that sometimes only spread Microsoft software or renew equipment so that it runs newer Microsoft software. Particularly in education, this helps Microsoft lot. In this case, there is not even monetary compensation; it’s just “vouchers”.
Three local school districts will receive a combined $1 million starting this year as a result of a legal settlement, and educators plan to use that money to put more technology in the hands of students.
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Wisconsin plaintiffs from a class-action lawsuit reached a settlement with Microsoft in 2006. The plaintiffs claimed that Microsoft violated state antitrust and unfair competition laws by overcharging customers for its products, according to a legal notice. The company denied the claims.
District officials have not finalized their plans for the money, but they are eager to give students the tools they need to remain competitive in the 21st century workforce.
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Nine Wausau schools will receive a total of $715,156 in vouchers that can be redeemed for technology products and services. VerDuin said he could add wireless Internet access to some of the elementary schools or just add more desktop computers.
This compensation is at least not exclusive to software. Microsoft loves making up some arbitrarily large numbers which it ascribes to freely-duplicable products, even as in fines.
Some more posts about the Mississippi settlement keep popping up, with previous coverage that includes, e.g. [1, 2].
A $100 million settlement between the State of Mississippi and Microsoft was reached June 10, 2009, in order to settle anti-trust claims. The agreement called for Microsoft to pay the state $40 million within 40 days. Up to $60 million more will be provided to consumers, businesses, all county/local/municipal government entities, public schools and public school districts.
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The Attorney General’s website will be updated as more information on the reimbursement becomes available.
This does not say whether vouchers or actual cash will be granted to victims of Microsoft’s abuse, which is not a US-only problem by the way
Microsoft’s bad behaviour in Nigeria is well documented and right now, based on this reports, Microsoft converts Nigerian schools into some kind of Microsoft training camps.
Microsoft Nigeria and its newest Certified Partner for Learning Solutions (CPLS), Karrox Nigeria , have certified six more secondary schools in Lagos as Microsoft IT Academies, bringing a total of in the country to 287. This is coming barely six months after the country produced its youngest ever Microsoft Certified Professionals.
With six new academies, Nigeria now has the most IT Academies within the Middle East and Africa region and is ranked amongst the top 10 countries in the world in adopting the Microsoft IT Academy Programme.
This is part of Microsoft's colonisation in Africa. It should not be permitted to pervade the educational system, which is run by the state. █
“Education and training: Target both developer and knowledge worker environment; Money and resources for curriculum development; Money and resources for teacher training; Subsidized certification on MS products”
–Confidential Microsoft document [PDF]
The Mad Hatter said,
August 12, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Now why would Microsoft invest in helping to produce more 419ers?
Inquiring minds want to know.