Microsoft piracy probe outs 10 rogue resellers

Software giant names 10 resellers caught selling pirated software

Software giant Microsoft has named and shamed 10 resellers caught dealing in illegal software over the past six months.

The vendor has reached settlements with ten firms for hard disk loading and selling pirated versions of Microsoft software.

So far this year, Microsoft has taken action against over 75 resellers for dealing in pirated software, including 25 in one fell swoop earlier this year.

Michala Wardell, head of anti-piracy at Microsoft, said the vendor was determined to continue clamping down on rogue channel traders.

She said: "If you speak to most small computer shops they'll tell you that piracy is having a clear impact on their business.

"The damage rogue traders inflict on the channel by selling pirated software is huge."

Luis Gomes, from Ossett PC Centre in West Yorkshire, one of the 10 firms implicated, said: "We pride ourselves in our customer service and understand that on this occasion we let our standards drop.

"We are now working more closely with Microsoft to ensure that our business doesn't add to the hugely damaging effects of software piracy."

The vendor highlighted the impact rogue traders have on the channel at a roundtable on the Future of Piracy last week, where it revealed that 14 per cent of new PCs contain a pirated version of Windows. Furthermore, 29 per cent contain a counterfeit version of Microsoft Office.

The ten resellers involved include:
Selectweb - Lancashire
Computer Trading, West Sussex
Tech Computers, West Midlands
PC Academy, Preston
Call -Tech Support (CTS), Bolton
Impact Computers, Preston
PC Practitioners, Derbyshire
MSB Computers, Blackburn
Multi Tech Systems, West Yorkshire
Ossett PC Centre, West Yorkshire