Microsoft urges firms to cease and desist

Software giant comes down hard on firms suspected of illegally smuggling education software

Microsoft has issued more than 50 cease and desist letters in its latest crackdown on alleged software smuggling operations.

According to Microsoft, companies in Jordan and other unnamed countries, have made millions in illegal profits by trafficking specially priced academic software diverted from education programs.

The software, believed to be discounted Microsoft Windows and Office, was passed off to US consumers which subsequently lacked the proper licensing.

Bonnie MacNaughton, senior attorney at Microsoft, said: “To those who say software piracy is a victimless crime, I would say this case tells a different story. The defendants in these lawsuits and others are charged with profiting from selling clearly marked educational software to unsuspecting retail customers who were not licensed to use it – and potentially depriving students and schools of the opportunity to benefit from the latest technologies.”

Basem Rousan, Jordan’s minister of information and communications technology, said: “Jordan has invested heavily in transforming itself into a fully-fledged knowledge economy. Companies that break Jordan’s intellectual property laws will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

EDirectSoftware.com, one of the largest offenders, has already agreed to settle Microsoft’s lawsuit out of court for more than $1 million in cash and property.

Other unnamed merchants that received cease and desist letters have agreed to voluntarily stop selling the software, which is clearly marked “Student Media” and “Not for retail or OEM distribution. Not for resale.”