Microsoft is paying $37.8m to the State of Arkansas to settle anti-trust action.

Any Arkansas resident or business who bought a Microsoft product between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2004 for use in the state is entitled to a voucher.

The state says Microsoft violated Arkansas laws pertaining to anti-trust, consumer protection, and unfair competition by overcharging customers for some of its operating systems, word processing, and spreadsheet software.

Microsoft denies any wrongdoing.

The deadline for applications is 23 April 2007.

The vouchers can be used to buy computers, software, and peripherals. If the vouchers are not fully taken up, which they rarely are, then Microsoft will make a payment of one half of the difference between the amount claimed and $37.8m.

Read the whole press release here. ®

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