Microsoft pirate crackdown nets 11 UK companies

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 13 Aug 2009 at 08:38

Microsoft claims to have reached out-of-court settlements with 11 UK companies it accused of selling illegal versions of its software.

The software giant launched legal action against the companies for a range of practices from illegally downloading the software from the internet, to using one licence to install software on multiple PCs. The company would not divulge the terms of the settlement, or whether any financial agreements were made.

As if the legal action wasn't enough, Microsoft subsequently published the names of the companies caught in the clampdown with contrite confessions explaining how they'd been wrong and would never do it again.

"It's good to see Microsoft working with small computer traders like us to ensure we're up to speed on the right way to use and sell their software," says Christine Throup who owns Worcester-based PC Support, one of the companies Microsoft took action against.

"We recognise that we weren't installing Microsoft software correctly, and that's something we take seriously. We'll be working with Microsoft over the next few weeks to make sure what we do falls within their software rules from now on," she adds.

According to Microsoft, the majority of its legal action against companies is driven by customer complaints. The company also claimed it was now taking down over 250 internet auctions each week, and taken legal action against more than 100 UK high-street shops in the last eighteen months.

The company vowed to continue pursuing SMEs selling or using unlicensed software, and even offered a warning to Enterprises, of which it claims 1 in 3 are using illegal copies of software.

The 10 other businesses that settled with Microsoft were Computer Clinic in Bolton; Computer Port in Walsall; Eazy PC in Redcar; Goldcast Computers and Matrix Computers in Stockton-on-Tees; PC Assist in Oldham; Personal Touch Computers in Portsmouth; Platinum Computers in Hartlepool; Spacebar Computers in Liverpool; and The Little Computer Shop in Pontypool.