AfterDawn: News

Microsoft continues fight against piracy

Microsoft has announced they have filed 52 more lawsuits against alleged sellers of pirated copies of its software. The company has also referred 22 separate cases to law enforcement.

Back in July, Microsoft successfully broke up a Chinese piracy syndicate and Microsoft noted that fifteen of the lawsuits were based on activity surrounding that syndicate.



Actions were filed worldwide including in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the US.

Microsoft has also set up a "Microsoft Buying Guide" on eBay to help users purchase genuine software and how to look out for counterfeit software.

"Microsoft is committed to taking the legal action necessary to protect consumers around the world from the dangers of counterfeit software, and we encourage consumers to look to the legitimate channel -- both online and offline -- when seeking genuine Microsoft software," associate piracy counsel David Finn said.

Source:
betanews

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 11 Dec 2007 18:54

• Previous article

• SpiralFrogs adds 1 millionth song

• Next article

• Vudu to release latest Bourne in streaming HD

• 9 comments

• DXR88

  Well at least there not sueing the people that get this type of software. wink wink or download it. shudder shudder

  12.12.2007 13:16 #1

• duke8888

  Daa
  
  I would rather get sued then spend 3 years in federal prison thats what happen to those guys and yes MS did start out suing pirates now they have them thrown in jail.....

  12.12.2007 15:14 #2

• DXR88

  Duke i meant the end users.that buy this stuff

  13.12.2007 10:50 #3

• Mez

  The users are probably the ones that are turning the prirates in. The key codes for Microsoft products are only good for 30 days. You have to register to get a permenent key code. The users complain that their product does not work and help MS go after the pirates. You can't get updates to existing software without a good key code.
  
  I suspect MS is sueing all the offenders then referring half of them to the police. By sueing, they can turn a profit on the venture.

  14.12.2007 07:32 #4

• qu1nt3n

  Quote:to protect consumers around the world from the dangers of counterfeit softwareprotect the consumers from what? what dangers? what about using a pirate version of windows is dangerous for consumers?

  14.12.2007 07:45 #5

• NHS2008

  Originally posted by DVDBack23: Actions were filed worldwide including in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the US.
  LOL, I think they missed a spot in India!
  I go there Nero 8 30 rupees! (thats 0.763553 USD)
  photoshop,Vista, Corel DVD you say!
  I dont buy there as to chances are you will get ripped off.

  14.12.2007 08:31 #6

• Mez

  qu1nt3n, the danger is obvious. MS will not make every dollar they think they are due. I do love how the slippery weasels can spin smoke to try and conceal their true intentions.

  14.12.2007 08:58 #7

• Mez

  I has occured to me that Microsoft has made it next to impossible to pirate software for several years. The pirated software is either hacked or what might be real scary is they are pirating old stuff. Would't that be wild?

  14.12.2007 16:54 #8

• borhan9

  Its funny how Australia is not in the list of countries that are getting lawsuits filed against them.

  23.12.2007 20:05 #9