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Seven of the suits centre on the abuse of the Microsoft Action Pack Subscriptions (MAPS) programme, which gives retailers access to Microsoft's products in order to test them internally. However, it transpired that these products were being sold on to consumers through online auction sites such as eBay.

Microsoft claims that as well as knowingly breaking the terms of the agreement

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under which the products were obtained, the practice puts unfair competition on its partners that are selling Microsoft goods through approved channels.

Three other suits were filed against operations trading counterfeit Microsoft goods. Redmond said it acted after having received a number of complaints from consumers and subsequently bought the goods itself and found them to be counterfeit.

Mary Jo Schrade, senior attorney at Microsoft, said: '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.'

Last Thursday Microsoft shut down a UK counterfeiter who was thought to have sold around £3m in counterfeit goods in an out-of-court settlement, agreeing to pay what Microsoft described as 'substantial damages'.