Microsoft gets tough with pirate dealers

Two US Vars are being sued by Microsoft for selling illegal copies of Windows NT Server and Workstation to their customers as the software giant steps up its litigious stance on piracy. European resellers are also coming under scrutiny.

Last week, Microsoft alleged that an informant bought pirate copies of the software from Vars Computers Under Retail and Future Information Design and that the company is hoping to stem the rising flow of piracy in the US reseller market.

A Microsoft representative said it had sent Future Information Design a warning letter before it began proceedings against it. He said Microsoft was determined to stop dealers installing network software without documentation.

Craig Fiebig, group product manager at Microsoft, said: ?We are seeing rapid growth in consumer demand for server products, but we are also seeing an increase in server piracy from unscrupulous resellers. To continue bringing innovative products to market while keeping prices low for our customers, we will take a very hard stance against piracy.?

Representatives at both Vars were not available for comment. Microsoft has made calls for users and other resellers to inform the company of any illegal selling.

This is the latest move by Microsoft in its long fight to beat software piracy.

Microsoft has already successfully taken legal action against a number of UK resellers to prevent them selling illegal software, since the software giant began its crusade more than a year ago.