Microsoft files eight lawsuits over counterfeiting

IDG News Service - Microsoft Corp. has filed eight lawsuits in the U.S. against computer systems builders and resellers for allegedly distributing counterfeit software and software components, it said today.
The suits were filed against Abacus Computer Corp. in Anaheim, Calif.; Technology One in Los Angeles; Avantek Inc. in Orlando; First E-Commerce in Austin; M&S Computer Products Inc. in Boonton, N.J.; Micro Excell Inc. in Gadsden, Ala.; Odyssey Computers in Pasadena, Md.; and Signature PC in Warwick, R.I.
The suits allege copyright and trademark infringement and were filed after the software maker sent cease-and-desist letters to the companies, said Microsoft, which filed similar suits against eight other dealers in 2004.
Microsoft discovered the alleged counterfeiting during its test purchasing program, under which it buys software from dealers to test for authenticity.
Counterfeit software undermines the business of legitimate products and accounts for 22% of the software being used on computers in the U.S. today, Microsoft said.
In an effort to fight piracy, the company lobbied for new legislation that provides criminal and civil penalties for the distribution of stand-alone Certificate of Authenticity (COA) labels or authentic COA labels that are separated from the software they are intended to certify. That legislation, called the Anti-Counterfeiting Amendments Act of 2003, was signed into law by President Bush in December.
One of the resellers was also sued for allegedly violating the new law, Microsoft said.