In a statement sent from Apple to members of the media, CEO Steve Jobs reaffirmed his opposition to Microsoft’s US$1 billion proposed settlement of private lawsuits. Microsoft lawyers are meeting with mediators today to improve the terms of the settlement. “Microsoft’s proposed settlement compels schools to adopt Microsoft technology,” Jobs said. “Most educators, along with Apple, think this is simply wrong. Any settlement must guarantee that schools have the freedom to choose, and this requires that Microsoft pay their penalty in cash, not donated Microsoft software which will cost them only pennies on the dollar. A $1 billion cash penalty represents less than 3 percent of Microsoft’s $36 billion cash hoard.”