[Am-info] Re[2]: IP: From MS --- re Microsoft proposed settlement

[Gene Gaines]

Linda,

Dialog?

Begin with this one from your statements:

>>Microsoft will be providing a $150 million initial grant and up to $100
>>million in additional 1-to-2 matching funds to a new education
>>foundation.

What will be the composition of this "new education foundation"?

Who will control it?

Gene
gene.gaines@gainesgroup.com

A proud user of TheBat! email program, no Lookout here.

On Thursday, November 22, 2001, 12:21:09 PM, Linda wrote:

> Gene,
> I'm up for having a dialog, listening to what's on your mind.  If you have a phone number, I'll give you a call.

> Linda

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gene Gaines [mailto:gene.gaines@gainesgroup.com]
> Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2001 9:08 AM
> To: Linda Stone
> Subject: Re: IP: From MS --- re Microsoft proposed settlement


> Linda,

> Bullshit.

> Gene
> gene.gaines@gainesgroup.com

> On Thursday, November 22, 2001, 10:01:47 AM, David wrote:


>>>Subject: Re:IP:   Microsoft proposed settlement
>>>Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 18:11:24 -0800
>>>From: "Linda Stone" <lindas@microsoft.com>
>>>To: <dave@farber.net>
>>>
>>>Dave,
>>>
>>>There have been a few postings about the proposed settlement that would
>>>resolve over 100 class action lawsuits that alleged Microsoft
>>>overcharged customers.
>>>
>>>What people seem to be missing is that the proposed settlement is
>>>explicitly product-agnostic.
>>>
>>>Microsoft will be providing a $150 million initial grant and up to $100
>>>million in additional 1-to-2 matching funds to a new education
>>>foundation.  If fully funded, therefore, the foundation will have $450
>>>million and all of that money is available for grants to local schools
>>>to buy whatever hardware and software they want.  The decision on what
>>>hardware or software to utilize will be made at the individual school
>>>level.  Schools that are using Macs today -- or who want to begin using
>>>Macs -- can apply for a grant to purchase Macs and Mac-related software.
>>>The Foundation is independent of Microsoft, and it is explicitly
>>>required to make grant awards on a non-discriminatory basis.
>>>
>>>Similarly, Microsoft will pay $160 million in cash into a separate fund
>>>overseen by the new education foundation, which will be used for
>>>technical support programs for the participating schools.  Once again,
>>>the technical support programs are to be product-agnostic -- regardless
>>>of whether schools use Macs or PCs, regardless of whether schools use
>>>Microsoft software or any other software, they can receive technical
>>>support through the programs funded by the foundation.
>>>
>>>In addition, Microsoft will pay $90 million to train teachers,
>>>administrators and support staff in how to use the technology provided
>>>by the settlement, how to integrate technology into their curricula, and
>>>how to support the technology they use.  Once again, this training will
>>>be available for Microsoft and non-Microsoft technology, depending on
>>>the products the schools select.
>>>
>>>Microsoft will also establish a program to provide operating systems for
>>>refurbished computers, and Microsoft is required to ensure that 200,000
>>>refurbished Pentium-class PCs and Macintosh computers are available to
>>>eligible schools each year.  Once again, the proposed settlement
>>>explicitly covers alternatives to Microsoft-based PCs.
>>>
>>>In addition to all of these hard-dollar commitments, Microsoft has also
>>>agreed to provide free software to eligible schools. The value of this
>>>software can only be estimated as it depends on the volume requested by
>>>schools, but it may exceed $500 million valued at Microsoft's heavily
>>>discounted academic prices.  Once again, schools with PCs can get a wide
>>>range of PC titles free of charge, and schools with Macs can get
>>>Microsoft's Mac titles, such as Office and the Magic Schoolbus learning
>>>series.  Even though Microsoft currently has very attractive academic
>>>pricing for schools, making this software available for free will be a
>>>tremendous boost for these struggling schools.
>>>
>>>Educators from around the country have responded to this proposed
>>>settlement in a very enthusiastically -- this settlement will provide a
>>>huge boost to more than 7 million disadvantaged students and more than
>>>400,000 teachers at our nation's neediest 12,500 schools.
>>>
>>>Lots of people have questioned the legitimacy of these class-action
>>>lawsuits to begin with -- Microsoft has traditionally priced its
>>>products as low or lower than competitor products.  Rather than waste
>>>millions of dollars by both sides on litigation, this settlement would
>>>put these issues behind us and bring enormous benefits to America's
>>>poorest schools.
>>>
>>>I hope this information is helpful.
>>>
>>>
>>>Linda Stone
>>>
>>>VP, Office of the CEO
>>>Microsoft Corporation


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