Mac owners between 2003 & 2008 can claim $10 in optical drive class-action lawsuit settlement

The suit alleged that an illicit collaboration between Panasonic, NEC, Sony, and Hitachi-LG conspired to keep optical drive prices artificially high between April 1, 2003 and Dec. 31, 2008. The settlement was finalized in the end of Dec. 2016.

Individuals and businesses who, as residents of qualifying areas, purchased a stand-alone drive, or a computer equipped with an optical drive, are entitled to up to $10 per computer purchased during the period. The amount of any individual settlement payment will be based on the number of the class member's qualifying purchases and the total number of class members, but will not exceed $10 per computer or drive.

Class member include any residents of the following states or districts who purchased an optical drive between April 1, 2003 and Dec. 31, 2008:

• Arizona
• California
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Kansas
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• Oregon
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Vermont
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

The four companies have paid $124.5 million into a recovery fund. Attorneys will receive 25% of the fund, with the rest to be paid out to drive purchasers.

The form for the settlement claim can be filed online, or by mail.