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Microsoft targets illegal software sales

3 April 2007 15:44 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 11 comments

Microsoft is known for targeting sellers of pirated software. Now the company has decided to go after more criminals, this time those who sell software to Internet retailers that was intended to be given to students instead. Companies in Jordan and other countries are posing as academic resellers, and in doing so have obtained hundreds of thousands of copies of Microsoft operating systems and office software.

Instead of the software going to students as intended, it is sold to Internet retailers. Microsoft has fired back by filing nine lawsuits and issuing more than 50 cease and desist letters. The lawsuits were filed in federal courts in California, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Nevada and Montana.

According to the software-giant, these phony companies have made millions through the scheme. "To those who say software piracy is a victimless crime, I would say this case tells a different story," said Bonnie MacNaughton, senior attorney at Microsoft. "The defendants in these lawsuits and others are charged with profiting from selling clearly marked educational software to unsuspecting retail customers who were not licensed to use it � and potentially depriving students and schools of the opportunity to benefit from the latest technologies."

Source:
DailyTech

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rihgt682 (Senior Member) 3 April 2007 18:42
F$#k microsoft [ + quote]
azndrake (Junior Member) 3 April 2007 19:57
Originally posted by rihgt682: F$#k microsoft And fuck those who is getting rich off scams. [ + quote]
janrocks (Inactive) 3 April 2007 20:29
That's rich... didn't apple patent dos? and what about the rest of the things microcrap have stolen over the years?? It's a nice case in point... Talk about the pot calling the f&^%^g kettle... http://www.reelsmart.com/2006/12/12/test-post/ How much of vista do microst believe they actually invented? The track record isn't good... chasing somebody for pirating something you made is one thing.. chasing somebody for stealing something you stole in the first place is just f**g stupid.. and very funny!! Now please excuse me while I get my sides surgically repaired.... irc.OFTC.net #debian-women .. Stuff Vista.. Stuff Micro$oft!! The revolution has happened.. Now we just need to TELL people! [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 3 April 2007 20:30**
plazma247 (Junior Member) 4 April 2007 2:03
It sounds to me like the only people who got hurt in this was microsoft, when if these student packs were disapearing into a black hole they would just print some more and carry on as normal. Im guessing this is why it took them so long to notice, which means it had a potential to take student copies away from students but due to their very large supply power it probably never did. The one thing thats not clarified there is whats going to happen to all those people out there who have paid of a copy thing it was retail and ended up with a student pack. Will they get WGA to death in the future or is it the case that its impossible to tell and even if they could is it right to go after the hapless customer who got the copy without knowing.... [ + quote]
joe777 (Member) 4 April 2007 11:22
Ha ha ha, who here has seen the movie " Pirates Of Silicone Valley ". For those of you that haven't, then go to yer local video store ( where ever that may be, land or cyber space ) and watch it. Oh, then please give comments over ethics and all that nonsense with microshit [ + quote]
domie (Member) 4 April 2007 14:32
Originally posted by plazma247: one thing thats not clarified there is whats going to happen to all those people out there who have paid of a copy thing it was retail and ended up with a student pack. Will they get WGA to death in the future or is it the case that its impossible to tell and even if they could is it right to go after the hapless customer who got the copy without knowing.... That is the interesting thing about the student pack, it seems to use one universal serial number ( or a limited number ) it has been flying around p2p sites and newzbin for a year now and is a fully functional xp pro o/s. I own a genuine copy of windows but i downloaded the student pack out of curiosity to see if all they claimed about it was true....it is !! It accepts WGA checks no problem and updates every time with no questions asked. No wonder M$ was/is worried. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 4 April 2007 14:33
holpa (Newbie) 4 April 2007 20:37
REALLY???????????? the copy works like normal xp pro? HORAAAAAAY for student copy then!!!! I'm gonna look for student copy... I mean legally... since I'm a student myself, I guess I don't have to feel bad or something ;p [ + quote]
dvdlover7 (Junior Member) 5 April 2007 8:55
PIRATED SOFTWARE,, microsoft needs to do the same way as apple, apple software much cheaper than microsoft everyone can afford to buy genuine,,by the way of microsoft not many people can afford their software....if they not keep price down and then pirate software could be good choice...i have genuine xp pro but now with VISTA...... jesus christ i can not afford to buy it..... [ + quote]
dvdlover7 (Junior Member) 5 April 2007 9:00
with window vista, microsoft was think it uncrackable but it's was crack within 2 weeks after release, i believe this is reason why VISTA too expensive,,uncrackable????????? come on microsoft nothing is impossible,,,,,,they think they have few smart guys and want to challenge the WHOLE WORLD..... [ + quote]
tranquash (Member) 5 April 2007 15:04
If M$ software wasn't overpriced there wouldn't be "piracy". M$ is not losing 1 cent, they're just mad because some people are paying less for their products. Screw M$!!! [ + quote]
scorpNZ (Senior Member) 5 April 2007 17:28
Cheers for the heads up i'll now be trading from my ford transit van and since i'll be continually mobile to keep ahead of the dogs, i'll shove my cell phone on roam so they can't pin point me to a specific vacinity or location :D PS: You can find me every saturday morning at the otara flea market in south auckland New Zealand :p [ + quote]