“Microsoft Corp. has settled antitrust class action lawsuits with five states and the District of Columbia, the company announced.

“We’ve worked hard over the last few months, and indeed over the last two years, to address these legal challenges and to move forward to build more constructive relationships with the government and with others in industry,” said Brad Smith, Microsoft senior vice-president and general counsel.

The six new settlements, with a total value of about US$200 million, brings the total number of states that have settled to 10. Class action lawsuits against Microsoft for antitrust-related practices continue in five states. The total cost to Microsoft of all 10 class-action lawsuits it has settled is about US$1.55 billion, including a US$1.1 billion settlement of a California lawsuit in January.”