Microsoft launches flurry of legal cases

Vendor announces latest crackdown on illegal online software sales

Microsoft has today announced a series of criminal and civil actions launched against alleged online dealers of counterfeit software.

In total the software giant has launched 55 legal actions across the globe, which includes 15 companies in the US, 10 in Germany, 10 in the Netherlands, five in France and five in the UK as well as against dealers in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Korea, Mexico and Poland.

The cases are against sellers that have allegedly misused eBay or other auction-site accounts to sell counterfeit software to unsuspecting consumers and businesses. The majority of sellers were identified through tip offs submitted from consumers through Microsoft’s Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) programme launched last year (CRN, 31 January 2005).

According to Microsoft, many of the defendants received warnings for infringing behavior before the legal action, including written cease and desist orders and/or removal of their auctions by the online host. In each case subsequent investigation and/or test purchases revealed copyright and trademark infringement by the defendant seller.

Matt Lundy, a senior attorney at Microsoft said: "Counterfeit software is defective and dangerous because counterfeiters tamper with the genuine software code, which leaves the door open to identity theft and other serious security breaches."
"It is simply not worth putting your personal and confidential information at risk to save a few dollars on software; it can cost much more in the long run. For our part, Microsoft is committed to taking the necessary legal action to protect consumers worldwide from the dangers of counterfeit software," he added.

Joe Peterson, corporate vice president of the Market Expansion Platforms Group at Microsoft said: "Every year, millions of consumers are victimised by unknowingly buying counterfeit software. This is a serious problem that requires a significant commitment to help solve. We’re making that commitment as we invest in efforts to show people what to look for and what to avoid, innovations to better protect the software, and legal action to protect consumers when necessary."