Two-Front Antipiracy Efforts Continue

With improperly licensed or counterfeit software in use on over 20% of the computers in the United States, Microsoft is continuing its two-pronged war on software piracy by continuing to aid prosecution of dishonest resellers and helping users who have unwittingly obtained a counterfeit version of Windows. Customers who suspect they have a counterfeit version can trade it for a genuine version if they provide information about the counterfeiter, but they will need to act quickly—the pilot exchange program for U.S. customers runs through June 30, 2005.

Test Purchase Program

While pirated software hurts Microsoft’s revenues, the company contends that its fight against software pirates and counterfeiters is not motivated purely by self-interest—antipiracy efforts also help partners, particularly legitimate systems builders. “Our partners are coming to us and asking for our help,” said Bonnie MacNaughton, senior attorney at Microsoft. “They are being undercut and forced out of business by having to compete with dishonest PC manufacturers and resellers who continue to sell illegitimate software. That isn’t fair to our partners or to the customers who depend on them.”