Microsoft stamps down on counterfeit disc replicator

 

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By Matt Whipp

Posted on 19 Dec 2006 at 11:09

An international disc replicator has settled a multimillion dollar counterfeit suit with Microsoft.

MPO Group, headquartered in France, was the subject of an investigation lasting several years that revealed that its Thai production plant had issued some 20,000 counterfeit copies of Microsoft Exchange and SQL Server in July 2003.

MPO claimed the discs were manufactured under an agreement on what turned out to be forged documentation from a third party.

Microsoft then claimed copyright and trademark infringement and a breach of the Disk Replication Agreements held between the two parties.

MPO says it cooperated with Microsoft in tracking down those responsible for distributing the software and is continuing to work with Microsoft on identifying and removing the counterfeit software from distribution channels.

David Finn, Associate General Counsel, Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting at Microsoft said: 'We are pleased to have settled this case with the MPO Group so quickly and look forward to an ongoing relationship with them. We appreciate the steps MPO has taken to tighten their security procedures to prevent a recurrence of this type of wholesale counterfeiting for Microsoft software, and to help track down all those responsible for distributing the counterfeits.'