[Am-info] The cost of Microsoft's school charity settlement

[Joe Moore]

$375 million, after taxes.  According to another MSFT press release,
last year Microsoft donated $215 million in cash and software.  So that's
only $160 million for being a predatory monopoly.

http://www.microsoft.com/msft/news/11-20ClassActionCharge.htm
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REDMOND, Wash. - Nov. 20, 2001 - - Microsoft Corp. today announced that it 
will record a pre-tax charge of approximately $550 million in the quarter 
ending Dec. 31, 2001, resulting from the settlement of more than 100 class 
action lawsuits. 

The proposed settlement provides for a five-year program whereby Microsoft 
will provide cash, matching funds, software, training, and technical 
support to help make computer technology more accessible to over 12,500 
public schools serving nearly 7 million of America?s most economically 
disadvantaged students.  

On an after-tax basis, the settlement will result in a charge of 
approximately $375 million, which represents a $0.06 to $0.07 reduction 
in forecasted diluted earnings per share for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 
2001.  Other than the settlement related charge, the Company is not 
providing any update to the financial guidance released on Oct. 18, 2001.
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