Microsoft makes firm pay for piracy

Online retailer made to supply customers with legitimate software at its own cost following Microsoft investigation

An online retailer has been the subject of a Microsoft investigation after it was found to be supplying its customers with counterfeit software originating from China.

Monitorshop.co.uk was found to have sold over £7,000 worth of pirate copies of Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003 after a customer became suspicious and sent a copy to the Microsoft Product Identification Service.

The software giant stated that Paul Rowling, owner of Monitorshop.co.uk, was “extremely supportive at all stages of the investigation”, and that Monitorshop has recovered all the pirate copies sold, and paid for those customers to receive legitimate versions.

Michala Alexander, Microsoft’s head of anti-piracy, said: “We will pursue all firms suspected of selling illegal software.

Microsoft takes very seriously its responsibility to protect the public from pirate software.”

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