[JURIST] Microsoft announced a $7 million settlement [press release] Tuesday of its lawsuit against Scott Richter and his company, once one of the biggest spammers in the world. Last summer Richter's company also paid $50,000 in penalties and costs [NY AG press release; JURIST report] relating to a suit filed in New York by Attorney General Elliott Spitzer. Microsoft agreed to direct $1 million of their settlement to New York [Microsoft open letter] with another $5 million going towards continued efforts to block illegal spam. The settlement is conditioned on the dismissal of pending bankruptcy petitions by Richter's company, with motions to do so expected to be filed today. Richter admitted no wrongdoing as part of the agreement but said his business had made "significant changes" as a result. AP has more.