MS AGO: About - Microsoft Faq | Protecting Mississippi by Preventing and Prosecuting Crime

Almost any Citizen living in Mississippi or business located in Mississippi who bought Microsoft Windows, Office, Excel, or Word products for use on a personal computer from January 1, 1996 thru June 11, 2009. More specifically, all persons, businesses, or entities who or which reside or are located in Mississippi and who or which, between January 1, 1996 and June 11, 2009, purchased a license for a Microsoft Operating System product for use on a personal computer or a license for Microsoft Office, Excel or Word. (Click here for the actual list of eligible products, also listed in Appendix A-1,2, and 3 of the Settlement Agreement.) County, local and municipal government entities, public schools and public school districts that are not State entities are also eligible. The purchased product must have been for use in Mississippi and cannot have been purchased for the purpose of resale.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A VOUCHER?

Once the period for challenging the settlement has expired, Microsoft will provide notice to eligible applicants. Advertisements will be placed in newspapers and several announcements will be posted on the Internet (including on Microsoft?s own website). Eligible applicants might also be contacted by email or regular mail to the extent Microsoft has an address. The notice will provide a claim form that you will have to fill out and return to the settlement administrator. You do not need proof of purchase, but you must submit a sworn statement in support of your claims. CLICK HERE to view voucher information in adobe pdf.

CONSUMER VOUCHER

Consumer Customers are purchasers who received their licenses for a covered Microsoft product by purchasing it from a retailer (either at a store, by mail, or the Internet) or who received their license for a covered Microsoft product with the purchase of a computer and do not qualify as Volume Licensing Customers. To obtain the Claim Form, please click HERE.

VOLUME LICENSING VOUCHER

Volume Licensing Customers are purchasers who licensed multiple copies through Microsoft Open, Select, or Enterprise Agreement licensing plans. To obtain the Claim Form, please click HERE. Volume Licensing Customers may also have obtained one or more covered Microsoft products outside Microsoft?s volume licensing programs.

HOW DO I REDEEM MY VOUCHER?

The vouchers are not redeemable for cash by themselves, and they cannot be presented directly to a retailer or computer manufacturer for an instant rebate. Once you apply and receive the voucher, you must purchase a qualifying piece of hardware or software. You can then send the voucher(s) along with the proof of purchase to the Settlement Administrator to receive a cash rebate for the total amount of your voucher(s) (as long as it is equal to or less than the purchase price of the hardware/software).

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR FILING A CLAIM?

All Claim Forms must be postmarked by October 16, 2009. In the event the total value of vouchers claimed by Eligible Purchasers exceeds $60 million, vouchers will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis with priority determined by the date of receipt of the submitted claim forms.

Qualifying hardware includes almost any personal desktop or laptop computer, including Macintosh or PC computers. Also, any software that will run on a personal computer, whether made by Microsoft or not, qualifies. Although you may make only one claim during the one-year period, you may submit as many vouchers as you have at that time?i.e., you can combine all of your vouchers.

Click Here to file a claim in Mississippi's settlement with Microsoft.

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