“Microsoft on Friday won dismissal of damage claims in 38
class-action antitrust suits when a judge held it couldn’t be sued
by consumers who didn’t directly purchase the Windows operating
system from the software giant.”
“U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz’s ruling spares Microsoft
the threat of hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and
eliminates the largest block of consumer lawsuits spawned by
another federal judge’s finding in June that the company illegally
defended its Windows monopoly for personal computer operating
software.”
“In today’s decision, Motz rejected arguments that consumers who
bought Windows installed on PCs or through retailers were direct
purchasers because they obtained a license to use the product from
Microsoft.”