Throughout the US there are 137 consumer lawsuits filed against Microsoft but the case in California is the first that has been allowed to proceed, many of the others having been dismissed. The case in California combines dozens of similar cases in the state, representing potentially millions of individuals who purchased Microsoft products.
If Microsoft ultimately loses its ongoing antitrust case against the US Department of Justice, some observers already expect the company to make a settlement offer in the Californian class action suit.
The Supreme Court is expected to announce its decision on where the antitrust case will be first heard on 2nd October.