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Microsoft Files Ten Piracy Lawsuits
Techtree News Staff, Dec 16, 2005 1204 hrs ISTMicrosoft has announced that it has filed ten lawsuits against companies for allegedly pirating software.
Microsoft has announced that it has filed ten lawsuits against companies for allegedly pirating software, and against people for allegedly selling not-for-resale software to unsuspecting buyers.
The software giant maintains that the actions taken amid a technology landscape pocked by fraudulent activities aimed at undermining fair business practices, are designed to help protect Microsoft's partners and consumers from those engaging in the illegal sale of its software.
Seven lawsuits filed against nine individuals from California, Maryland, New York, Texas and Virginia allege breach of a software agreement, by which the individuals obtained a number of Microsoft Action Pack Subscriptions (MAPS). The MAPS Initiative is a program that provides eligible partners with discounted Microsoft software packages for product evaluation and internal use.
The MAPS-related lawsuits, the first Microsoft has filed, allege extreme abuse of this program by people who have repeatedly and knowingly broken the terms of the agreement. Some of those named in the suits have allegedly attempted to sell software from their subscriptions to consumers through online auction sites.
Through its own monitoring of the MAPS program, Microsoft became aware of abuses of the subscription service, including subscribers falsifying information to receive the program benefits and software titles multiple times. The MAPS agreement stipulates that partners may subscribe to the MAPS program only once each year, that the software may not be resold, and that the software must be used only at the partner's primary business location and only for business purposes such as application development and testing.
Mary Jo Schrade, senior attorney, Microsoft, said, "Our honest partners have asked us to intervene to help protect those who abide by laws and rules governing software use and distribution. The lawsuits announced today are a necessary step to help ensure that those who knowingly and repeatedly violate known and widely accepted standards, will not be given free rein to do so. We want to protect the business of honest resellers, and try to ensure a level playing field for our partners."
In Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Microsoft purchased software from each of the defendant companies, to test its authenticity in response to consumer complaints. When it was confirmed that the software was illegitimate, Microsoft sent cease-and-desist letters to the companies with educational information about how to operate legally. The lawsuits were filed only after the alleged perpetrators would not change their behavior.
The software giant maintains that the actions taken amid a technology landscape pocked by fraudulent activities aimed at undermining fair business practices, are designed to help protect Microsoft's partners and consumers from those engaging in the illegal sale of its software.
Seven lawsuits filed against nine individuals from California, Maryland, New York, Texas and Virginia allege breach of a software agreement, by which the individuals obtained a number of Microsoft Action Pack Subscriptions (MAPS). The MAPS Initiative is a program that provides eligible partners with discounted Microsoft software packages for product evaluation and internal use.
The MAPS-related lawsuits, the first Microsoft has filed, allege extreme abuse of this program by people who have repeatedly and knowingly broken the terms of the agreement. Some of those named in the suits have allegedly attempted to sell software from their subscriptions to consumers through online auction sites.
Through its own monitoring of the MAPS program, Microsoft became aware of abuses of the subscription service, including subscribers falsifying information to receive the program benefits and software titles multiple times. The MAPS agreement stipulates that partners may subscribe to the MAPS program only once each year, that the software may not be resold, and that the software must be used only at the partner's primary business location and only for business purposes such as application development and testing.
Mary Jo Schrade, senior attorney, Microsoft, said, "Our honest partners have asked us to intervene to help protect those who abide by laws and rules governing software use and distribution. The lawsuits announced today are a necessary step to help ensure that those who knowingly and repeatedly violate known and widely accepted standards, will not be given free rein to do so. We want to protect the business of honest resellers, and try to ensure a level playing field for our partners."
In Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Microsoft purchased software from each of the defendant companies, to test its authenticity in response to consumer complaints. When it was confirmed that the software was illegitimate, Microsoft sent cease-and-desist letters to the companies with educational information about how to operate legally. The lawsuits were filed only after the alleged perpetrators would not change their behavior.
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Alex the Thunde
,Manama, Bahrain, on Dec 17, 2005 01:57 PM
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anonymous
,Delhi, on Dec 18, 2005 04:28 PM
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,here, on Dec 16, 2005 11:36 PM
Laxminarayan Ka
,Bangalore, on Dec 17, 2005 10:32 AM
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,KOLKATA, on Dec 18, 2005 05:40 AM
James Masasaki
,San Jose, on Dec 17, 2005 12:49 PM
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,Chennai., on Dec 17, 2005 10:48 AM
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