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Microsoft Drags 8 Sellers to Court
Techtree News Staff, Mar 16, 2006 1937 hrs ISTMicrosoft Corp has filed 8 lawsuits against sellers who allegedly sold counterfeit Microsoft software via eBay auctions.
As part of its ongoing initiative to protect customers and genuine business partners from dishonest business practices, Microsoft Corp has announced that it has filed eight lawsuits against sellers who allegedly sold counterfeit Microsoft software via eBay auctions.
The defendants are located in Connecticut, Hawaii, Arizona, Florida, Nebraska, New York, Washington and Massachusetts.
Seven of these were identified through customer submissions to Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program - an online validation tool for customers to determine whether their software is genuine or not. Complaints were also received through Microsoft's anti-piracy hotline, 1-800-RU-LEGIT (785-3448).
In 2005, Microsoft reportedly requested take-downs of nearly 50,000 auctions sites that were allegedly offering pirated software. The company routinely monitors auction sites, in order to identify and protect consumers from buying illegal software.
Matt Lundy, attorney, Microsoft, said, "Online auction sites are an excellent way for people from around the world to buy and sell goods. We strongly believe in the convenience and global reach of the virtual marketplace. Unfortunately, a number of online sellers are undermining trust in the system by using the Internet to hawk illegal products to unsuspecting consumers. Microsoft is committed to protecting our customers and technology partners from unscrupulous sellers through customer education and enforcement in appropriate cases. By filing these lawsuits, we hope that auction purchasers will understand that software offers are not always what they appear to be."
Michael Schwab, vice president - purchasing, D&H (wholesale distributor for computer and peripheral products), said, "Honest resellers are losing business because of illegal sales on online auction sites. Customers are eager to find the best deal, which often happens to be associated with an inferior, illegal product. This sets the price standard and makes it impossible for those of us operating within the law to compete."
Business Software Alliance (BSA) recently declared that almost 21 percent of all software in the US is pirated, and that when consumers unintentionally buy counterfeit or pirated software, they are not entitled to receive the benefits typically offered to genuine software users. Additionally these customers run the risk of unwittingly introducing viruses, malicious code or spyware into their computers.
The defendants are located in Connecticut, Hawaii, Arizona, Florida, Nebraska, New York, Washington and Massachusetts.
Seven of these were identified through customer submissions to Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program - an online validation tool for customers to determine whether their software is genuine or not. Complaints were also received through Microsoft's anti-piracy hotline, 1-800-RU-LEGIT (785-3448).
In 2005, Microsoft reportedly requested take-downs of nearly 50,000 auctions sites that were allegedly offering pirated software. The company routinely monitors auction sites, in order to identify and protect consumers from buying illegal software.
Matt Lundy, attorney, Microsoft, said, "Online auction sites are an excellent way for people from around the world to buy and sell goods. We strongly believe in the convenience and global reach of the virtual marketplace. Unfortunately, a number of online sellers are undermining trust in the system by using the Internet to hawk illegal products to unsuspecting consumers. Microsoft is committed to protecting our customers and technology partners from unscrupulous sellers through customer education and enforcement in appropriate cases. By filing these lawsuits, we hope that auction purchasers will understand that software offers are not always what they appear to be."
Michael Schwab, vice president - purchasing, D&H (wholesale distributor for computer and peripheral products), said, "Honest resellers are losing business because of illegal sales on online auction sites. Customers are eager to find the best deal, which often happens to be associated with an inferior, illegal product. This sets the price standard and makes it impossible for those of us operating within the law to compete."
Business Software Alliance (BSA) recently declared that almost 21 percent of all software in the US is pirated, and that when consumers unintentionally buy counterfeit or pirated software, they are not entitled to receive the benefits typically offered to genuine software users. Additionally these customers run the risk of unwittingly introducing viruses, malicious code or spyware into their computers.
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mahendra
,colombo, on Apr 08, 2008 04:48 PM
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Schadeboy
,Sierra Vista, AZ, on Mar 16, 2006 11:54 PM
Sean
,Kentucky, on Mar 17, 2006 12:07 AM
Neo2000
,Hyderabad, on Mar 17, 2006 12:25 PM
Sagarat
,Slacks Creek, on Mar 19, 2006 08:38 AM
Ivan Bayross
,Mumbai, on Mar 17, 2006 07:21 AM
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