AfterDawn: News

Microsoft reaches settlement with 11 pirate retailers

Microsoft has had a long-running campaign against businesses that use and/or sell pirated copies of its software, whether its actually sold as a counterfeit product on a disc, or a pre-installed on a HDD by a PC dealer. In the UK, it has taken action against more than 100 high street retailers in just the last 18 months or so.

One of the companies that it caught, and is now working with, is PC Support in Worcester. Christine Throup of the company, told The Register, "We recognize that we weren’t installing Microsoft software correctly, and that’s something we take seriously. We’ll be working with Microsoft over the next few weeks to make sure what we do falls within their software rules from now on."



Ten other companies also have reached a settlement with Microsoft having been caught in the act (list at source). Microsoft reminds consumers that PCs with pre-loaded Windows installations should also come with the appropriate documents to prove that it is genuine software.

The company provides a discounted replacement service for consumers who unknowingly bought unlicensed copies of Microsoft's operating systems.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 13 Aug 2009 13:17

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• 8 comments

• dailun

  "....Christine Throup of the company, told The Register, "We recognize that we weren’t installing Microsoft software correctly, and that’s something we take seriously."
  
  As I consumer, I take it seriously that if you don't know how to install Microsoft software correctly, you're not someone I want to be doing business with.

  13.8.2009 13:47 #1

• Mysttic

  Especially since said "practices" are voluntarily and knowingly ripping off the consumer who purchased an illegal version of the MS product. I feel sorry for all those involved.

  13.8.2009 15:06 #2

• cart0181

  Originally posted by dailun: "....Christine Throup of the company, told The Register, "We recognize that we weren’t installing Microsoft software correctly, and that’s something we take seriously."
  
  As I consumer, I take it seriously that if you don't know how to install Microsoft software correctly, you're not someone I want to be doing business with.I'm sure it was "correctly" installed, it just happened to be pirated, or they installed the same copy on multiple computers. More than likely, they were abusing a volume license. (taking one they bought for 10 computers and installing it on 20 or so)

  14.8.2009 14:03 #3

• ThePastor

  With hardware costs falling like a brick (you can buy an adequate PC for $400 now-days) The price of the software (Windows) is becomming a much higher percentage of cost and is, IMO the biggest block to the price of PC's going even lower.
  That's not to defend this illegal practice, but it does explain, somewhat, why it happens.

  14.8.2009 17:00 #4

• domie

  "that's something we take seriously " ( now that we've been caught and exposed as pirates and thieves ripping off the general public - unbelivable - stupid woman !

  15.8.2009 06:33 #5

• borhan9

  Yes i actually agree with Microsoft on this one,but Microsoft has to realize that this problem of software being pre-loaded or anything else is and can be very hard to police.
  
  I have to congrats to Microsoft for at least consulting and trying to come up with an agreement that best suite everyone involved and i like this as an answer rather than just legal court rooms and the back and forth of that nonsense.

  15.8.2009 21:45 #6

• pippincp

  Originally posted by borhan9: Yes i actually agree with Microsoft on this one,but Microsoft has to realize that this problem of software being pre-loaded or anything else is and can be very hard to police.
  
  I have to congrats to Microsoft for at least consulting and trying to come up with an agreement that best suite everyone involved and i like this as an answer rather than just legal court rooms and the back and forth of that nonsense.And what about the consumer who unknowingly dealt with the company who is now dealing with Microsoft?
  
  "The company provides a discounted replacement service for consumers who unknowingly bought unlicensed copies of Microsoft's operating systems."
  
  Yet again the consumer gets screwed. Microsoft are now getting the correct fee from the company.
  
  Forgot to add
  
  If it was Vista why aren't they giving it away!!!

  20.8.2009 11:30 #7

• Chroma45

  Quote:Originally posted by dailun: "....Christine Throup of the company, told The Register, "We recognize that we weren’t installing Microsoft software correctly, and that’s something we take seriously."
  
  As I consumer, I take it seriously that if you don't know how to install Microsoft software correctly, you're not someone I want to be doing business with.I'm sure it was "correctly" installed, it just happened to be pirated, or they installed the same copy on multiple computers. More than likely, they were abusing a volume license. (taking one they bought for 10 computers and installing it on 20 or so)There is no VLKs for Vista and Windows 7. After the debacle of WinXP and the VLK that was blocked with SP1. Now large organizations have a KMS and MAK license. The MAK license is limited and tracked (we have 500) on the organizations MVLS site. The KMS is unlimited but can only be authenticated within your organization's network. It's more possible that they were selling OEM licenses for upgrades or student editions erroneously. If they were using pirated keys they wouldn't be in business anymore.

  20.8.2009 18:17 #8