January 8th, 2005, is the deadline for Windows users to file a claim against Microsoft under the settlement in the class-action lawsuit on behalf of several California plaintiffs against the software giant.

The settlement, arising from a lawsuit in which it was claimed that Microsoft had violated California’a anti-trust law by charging too much for Windows 95 and Windows 98, provides that both corporations and consumers located in California are entitled to refunds ranging from $50.00 to several million dollars.

Anyone who purchased a qualifying Microsoft product in California between 1996 and 2001 may file a claim. It costs nothing to file, and covered products include Microsoft Windows, MS-DOS, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Home Essentials, Microsoft Works Suite, and Microsoft Excel. Successful claimants will receive credit vouchers ranging from $5.00 to $29.00 which can be used to purchase hardware and software from most manufacturers.

For more information about how to file a claim, see the website set up by the law firm which successfully prosecuted the case, at [Page no longer available – we have linked to the archive.org version instead].