Microsoft Cracks Down On 25 UK Software Pirates

ZDNet - 6 July 2010

Microsoft has caught 25 UK-based firms that have confessed to selling pirated copies of Windows software pre-installed on new computers since the beginning of 2010.

Based on tip-offs from wary consumers, the company's investigators found 21 businesses based in metropolitan areas that were selling machines pre-loaded with non-genuine Windows software, a spokesperson for Microsoft UK said on Tuesday. Four eBay-based sellers were also identified in the crackdown.

Customers thought they were getting a bargain on genuine pre-loaded Windows and Office software, but were unaware they had paid for pirated copies of software downloaded from the internet, as well as locally-made illegal copies of genuine Microsoft software.

"At a time when UK resellers are looking to expand their business post-recession, piracy not only impedes growth, but puts local hard-working computer shops out of business," said Michala Wardell, head of anti-piracy at Microsoft UK, said in a statement.

Counterfeiting cost the software industry more than $51 billion in profits in 2009, according to a report released by the Business Software Alliance and IDC that was released in May. The study estimated that for every $100 of legal software bought, another $75 of pirated software made its way into buyers' hands.

The companies identified by Microsoft were scattered throughout the UK and include areas such as Birmingham, Liverpool, Huddersfield, Leeds, Kent, Warrington, Sheffield and Swansea. Each paid Microsoft an undisclosed amount and agreed to stop selling the pirated software as part of a settlement with the company, which said it would go to court if they did not comply.

Of the 25 resellers contacted by the software giant, Microsoft says most admitted the mistake openly, although many blamed wayward employee behaviour or said that they were not aware of the illegality of the practice.

The Microsoft UK spokesperson said that the majority of the companies involved have agreed to work with it on software procurement and resale in the future.

Source: ZDNet

 

Microsoft has settled with 21 UK retailers that were caught pirating its software. The PC shops preloaded unlicensed Microsoft programs on computers or sold them directly to customers.

Microsoft is clamping down on piracy in the United Kingdom and the latest it has to show for it is a list with the name of 21 independent computer shops and 4 eBay traders who were caught selling counterfeit software. CRN reports that six of the companies were based in Birmingham and five in Liverpool, leading to Microsoft referring to the regions as piracy hot spots.

http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn/news/2265957/microsoft-names-shames-software

By confirming the settlements Microsoft made the names of the offending retailers public. They were Computer Services Repair from Birmingham, Marsh Computers High Tech Trading Ltd from Kent, B'N'I Computers Ltd from Birmingham, Morely Computers from Leeds, Discovery Computers from Birmingham, South Liverpool PC Repair from Leeds, Gemini Computers from Birmingham, Smithdown Computers from Liverpool, Bytesize Solutions Ltd from Birmingham, TC Links from Liverpool, Discount Computer Warehouse from Birmingham, SXC Industries Ltd t/a Stockxchange from Liverpool, Computer Resale from Chesterfield, Avesta UK Ltd from Manchester, Quest Computers from Gosport, KBR Computers from Merseyside, Surf-IT Computers Ltd from Hampshire, Jupiter IT from Merseyside, Exel Computers from Sheffield, Clarion Computers from Swansea and MCS Computers from Teesside. The four rogue eBay traders were called Little Laptop Shop eBay (recovery_dvds), Custom PC Shop, Fizz Time (Electricbuy) and Snowdon Computers Ltd.