Forced Windows 10 upgrade costs Microsoft over $10,000

Microsoft’s underhand Windows 10 upgrade tactics have landed the firm in legal trouble and cost it thousands of dollars, following a successful court ruling against the company in the US.

Last month, Microsoft was ordered to pay out $10,000 (around £7,600) in compensation to California resident Teri Goldstein, after an unwanted free Windows 10 upgrade left her PC unstable and unresponsive.

Ms Goldstein, who used her computer to run her travelagency business, took Microsoft to a small claims court, arguing that she did not authorise the upgrade that not only rendered her PC unusable, but also lost business for her company. Microsoft appealed against the ruling at first, but later agreed to pay the compensation.

Since Windows 10 launched last summer, Microsoft has been widely criticised for the aggressive way it has marketed its free upgrade offer, with continual ‘nag’ screens, background downloads and malware-like traps seemingly designed to trick users into upgrading. This, however, marks the first time Microsoft has been formally reprimanded for its actions.

The successful ruling could pave the way for further legal action against Microsoft by other disgruntled victims of the company’s Windows 10 upgrade tactics.

The news came as Microsoft launched its most intrusive Windows 10 nag screen ever. The new notification takes over your entire screen with a large “Sorry to interrupt but this is important” message and a prompt to upgrade. Microsoft’s free Windows 10 upgrade offer is due to end on 29 July.