“Keep IT Real will help us to address the problem in a number of
ways,” said Michala Alexander, Microsoft's UK head of anti-piracy.
“By educating customers on how to purchase legitimate software, we
can protect them from the risks associated with piracy. And by
closing down channels for the sale of pirate software, we can
reduce the impact of illegal trade on Microsoft's UK partners."
Over the next six months, Microsoft plans to send two teams of
investigators to 800 technology vendors suspected of hard-disk
loading (where PC vendors charge multiple customers for copies of
the software pre-installed on PCs, but provide a license agreement
valid for only one copy) or other forms of piracy.
Microsoft will then assess the findings of the operation, known
as ‘Feet on the Street’, and decide on the appropriate course of
action for each case. This could include prosecution.
"A small number of IT vendors are at the moment putting
customers at risk of unwittingly running illegal software,” said
Alexander. “The work of the Feet on the Street teams will make
clear to these vendors that Microsoft will not tolerate illegal
copies of its software being sold."
Microsoft is increasing its commitment to the pursuit of legal
actions.
Earlier this week the company announced the initial results of a
crackdown on the sale of counterfeit software in the Glasgow area.
In projects spanning three years, investigations were conducted
into 12 companies, resulting in court proceedings and payments of
up to £75,000 each.
The software giant is also working with auction and retail
websites to tackle piracy. It reports that, under eBay’s VeRO
programme, over 35,000 suspected illegal sales items have been
removed from the eBay site since August 2005.
