Suing Microsoft The Easy Way
Microsoft is one of the most powerful tech companies in the United States of America. But it is also known as one of the most tyrannical companies that have a history of alleged bullying of competition and private individuals. The company has been involved in several high-profile litigations that included lawsuits against the United States, the European Union, competitors, and consumers.
In this article, we will show you how to take advantage of small claims courts in suing Microsoft and other similar tech giants, and how streamlines the filing process.
Notorious Microsoft Lawsuits
The table below outlines some of the most infamous Microsoft lawsuits:
| Nature of Lawsuit | Description |
| Antitrust | Microsoft was accused of using tactics that leveraged pricing to win against competitors and building technical deterrents to make it appear that the competitor's products will not function on Microsoft’s operating system. |
| Patents | Microsoft was accused of violating patents on a variety of products and services such as MP3-related technologies, high-speed streaming and video content capabilities, Live Tiles, and more. |
| Copyrights | Microsoft was accused of copyright infringement on computer elements such as Apple's visual graphical user interface. |
| Trademarks | Microsoft lawsuits involved trademark issues such as the use of the name Lindows, the domain name MikeRoweSoft.com, contributory cybersquatting, and others. |
| Consumer Protection Violation | Microsoft was accused of violating state consumer protection laws by hiding the high failure rate of the Xbox 360 game console. |
Suing Microsoft for Market Monopoly
The Microsoft Antitrust Case was a lawsuit against Microsoft that happened in the 1990s where US federal regulators sued Microsoft for attempting to monopolize the personal computer market. The company violated sections of the Sherman Antitrust Act which ensures fair competition in the market. Some of the company’s actions that prompted the Justice Department to file the antitrust charges against Microsoft include bundling additional programs into its operating system, thus
- Making it a prerequisite to buying the Microsoft Windows operating system
- Distributing its browser software, Internet Explorer, for free among its consumers
- Making it intentionally complicated for consumers to install competitor’s software on Microsoft’s operating system
- Making it intentionally cumbersome to uninstall the company's browser Internet Explorer
Suing Microsoft for Anti-Competitive Practices
Aside from the United States, there are also Microsoft lawsuits filed in the United Kingdom and Canada. In the UK, the software reseller company ValueLicensing alleged Microsoft of using anti-competitive practices that resulted in damages. In the lawsuit, the plaintiff accuses Microsoft of coercing companies to give up licenses in exchange for rebates instead of selling them to resellers such as ValueLicensing and other similar companies.
Meanwhile, in Canada, there is a class-action lawsuit that alleges Microsoft of engaging in price inflation of specific Microsoft products. The plaintiffs filed a complaint indicating that Microsoft has unlawfully employed anti-competitive practices. Some of the potential damages that can be awarded to the plaintiffs include:
- $6.50 – $13 per Microsoft product license.
- Consumer cash payments – This is available to eligible class members who purchased a license for specific Microsoft products.
- Volume licensee vouchers - This is available to eligible class members who purchased a license through a Microsoft volume licensing program.
Suing Microsoft for Negligence
In California, Teri Goldstein sued Microsoft for negligence that involved a forced Windows 10 upgrade which rendered her computer useless and adversely affected her travel agency business. The plaintiff alleged Microsoft of forcing a Windows 10 upgrade on her business computer without her knowledge or permission. Some of the circumstances of the case that ensured Goldstein success involve:
- The Windows 10 update caused the Windows 7 Home Premium PC to crash and made her business computer unusable
- Her PC was enrolled in the Windows 10 beta program without her knowledge and permission
- The beta program left her with broken unfinished code that cannot be uninstalled from her Windows 7 Home Premium system
- She suffered damages in her travel agency business and financial loss for buying a new laptop
- A Microsoft regional manager was unwilling to assist her and was continually rude to her
Goldstein filed a complaint in small claims court in her county to seek damages. And since the lawsuit is in small claims, it meant that she is on equal footing with the tech giant. It also meant Microsoft could not send one of its bigwig lawyers. In the end, Goldstein was awarded $10,000 damages from Microsoft.
How to Sue Microsoft with DoNotPay
Suing in a small claims court comes with a bevy of benefits including leveling the playing field between plaintiff and defendant. However, just like in a regular court, you will also need to overcome bureaucracies and complete highly technical legal forms and documentation. That is how DoNotPay can help.
- Log in to and select the Sue Now Product
- Enter the dollar amount you are owed
- Select whether you want a demand letter or court filing forms
- Describe the reason for the lawsuit and submit any applicable details, including photo proof
That’s it! will then generate a demand letter or court filing forms for you. We’ll even mail a copy of your demand letter to Microsoft on your behalf!
What Else Can DoNotPay Do For You?
helps people sue any company without a lawyer in small claims court. Check out other companies that DoNotPay has helped sue:
- AT&T
- Uber
- Verizon
- Geico and other insurance companies
- United Airlines and other airlines