MS crackdowns on dealers selling unlicensed software

Twelve computer dealers in Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai have been found selling unlicensed software as a result of an expanded software piracy crackdown conducted by Microsoft. 

Of the 12 dealers, eight have reached out of court settlements with Microsoft. The remaining companies are facing civil or legal action for copyright infringement after unsuccessful attempts to resolve the matter amicably.

The crackdown took place in August and September after Microsoft received information that a number of businesses were 'hard loading' pirated copies of Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Office 2000 onto PCs.

Investigators from the company bought computers with preloaded software and subjected them to a technical analysis, which revealed that the software was unlicensed. The dealers were then called upon to attend settlement meetings. Computers purchased as part of the investigation will be donated to charitable organizations.

Microsoft had previously announced that it would be stepping up its Dealer Test Purchase Program (DTPP) in India by increasing the frequency of its investigations and extending the number of cities covered in the campaign.

The DTPP is a national program that has been operating for the past three years. Its aim is to identify and take action against computer dealers and resellers who load unlicensed software onto PCs for sale to unsuspecting customers.

Anu Prakash, Corporate Attorney, Microsoft's Law and Corporate Affairs department in India said that Microsoft will continue to escalate the frequency of DTPP investigations. She also warned past offenders not to revert to piracy.

As a result of the latest campaign, Zee Computers, Compton Computers, Skope the Computer Shop and Cyberpark India in Delhi have made payments towards costs. All four have also signed apologies and agreed to stop dealing in pirated software.

Two dealers in Bangalore - Diginet Systems and Computer International - agreed to settlement terms similar to that of the Delhi dealers. 

In Mumbai, OcKAM Systems and La Plume have paid costs, signed apologies and agreed to stop dealing in unlicensed products.

Cyber News Service