Microsoft Corp.

has agreed to an $89 million dollar settlement in the class action lawsuits filed on behalf of North Carolina consumers. The suit claimed that Microsoft violated the state's antitrust and unfair competition laws. Plaintiffs included consumers and businesses who had purchased Microsoft products between Dec. 9, 1995 and Dec. 31, 2002. The settlement will comprise vouchers that will be valid for any manufacturer's desktop, laptop or tablet computers running any operating system, or any software that may be used with those computer products. (Jun-14-03) [SEATTLE PI]