A class action suit was filed in Iowa claiming that Microsoft had used its market dominance to discourage other software developers from producing applications that would have been superior to Microsoft's products. The Des Moines Register reported on November 2 2006, in an article entitled "Microsoft judge tosses 'loss of innovation' theory" that Des Moinse lawer Roxanne Conlin brought a new type of damage claim called "loss of innovation". She claimed that she was basing damage claims of $450M on "denial of free choice and loss of the benefits of software innovaiton" against Microsoft. The $450M estimate is based on the damage done to Iowans who purchased Microsoft products between 1994 and 2006 and the absense of innovaiton in markets in which Microsoft has a commanding share.
Lack of innovation has an even more tangible cost with this kind of law suit.
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