Volume VIII

Issue : 2: January 21, 2010

• Italian Consumer Group ADOC seeks class action suit against Microsoft
• Bulletproof Servers in China Serve File Sharing Services and Spammers
• Amazon in Danger of Sales Tax Again
• Possible Resolution of Viacom Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against YouTube
• Non Profits Challenge Food Patent
• Kodak Pursues RIM and Apple for Patent Infringement at the ITC
• Twitter Sarcastic Airport Bomb Threat Results in Arrest

Home > Volume VIII > Issue 2: January 21, 2010 > Italian Consumer Group ADOC seeks class action suit against Microsoft

Italian Consumer Group ADOC seeks class action suit against Microsoft

L’associazione nazionale per la difesa e l’orientamento dei consumatori (ADOC), the Italian Consumers’ Defence and Guidance Association created to serve the interests of the public, is seeking to mount a class-action lawsuit against Microsoft. The battle stems from Microsoft’s decision to pre-install the Windows Operating System (“OS”) on personal computers, thereby not allowing individuals who prefer not to use Windows OS to opt-out.

A new law was passed on January 1, 2010 in Italy permitting class-action law suits. ADOC is seeking compensation for the costs of the unwanted Windows OS, as the new Italian law only provides for compensation for costs and not for punitive damages. Although judges have not yet accepted the lawsuit, ADOC is particularly hopeful that the case will commence in the near future, and ADOC has already won a pilot case in a Florence Court. Approximately 2,000 individuals have expressed an interest in participating in the lawsuit. The Windows OS software costs between 150 and 250 Euros.

For additional information, visit:

http://tinyurl.com/ybqk4hf