Kensington Antitrust Advisors Group

The state of Mississippi has reached a settlement worth up to $100 million with Microsoft Corp., the largest cash payment so far in a string of deals the technology giant has struck with states over allegations that it abused its monopoly power by bundling its Internet Explorer and its Windows operating system, thereby shutting rivals out of the Web browser market.  The settlement will be paid as a combination of a cash payment to the state and hardware and software vouchers to consumers, businesses, government entities, public schools, and public school districts.  In January the European Commission began an investigation into whether similar bundling by Microsoft in the European Union has harmed competition and reduced consumer choice in violation of the European Union antirust laws.