Microsoft Corp. has filed 26 lawsuits accusing U.S. companies of selling pirated software, the latest move in its ramped-up efforts to boost sales by cracking down on illegal copies.
The world’s largest software maker filed the lawsuits Friday in federal courts in Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Colorado, South Carolina, New York and New Jersey. The lawsuits accuse the companies of selling illegal copies of its Windows operating system and Office business software.
The lawsuits are the latest in Microsoft’s increasingly aggressive steps to curb piracy of its two flagship products — and cash cows — Windows and Office. The company has begun widespread distribution of a program, called Windows Genuine Advantage, that checks whether users are running legitimate copies of Windows. And it scored a coup earlier this year when China agreed to crack down on piracy.
Redmond-based Microsoft still rakes in billions of dollars in profits from Windows, but the market is growing more saturated. That’s left the company more eager to curb illegal copies, in the hopes those users will buy legitimate versions.
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I’m not surprised more people pirate software. Office is so damn overpriced!!
Im still suprised people dont just switch to openoffice its just about the dame damn program.
What messed up is that I read somewhere that Microsoft has so far paid out like 6.5 billion in fines in regards to its antitrust violations not sure if was just EU or US and EU combined but it gives a glimpse on how much cash theese guys are pullin in. Dont think these 26 people came anywhere remotely close to the losses caused by their own refusal to obey court orders.
all this crap is pathetic seriously office pro costs what $500? How do you expect companies to be willing to pay that? I know we had a copy of it for all of the computers at my high school and we had like 5 computer labs and some in each classroom for teachers and stuff probably 300 copies apple charges like $30 for the entire iLife collection or whatever they call it now which includees their version of office (I forget what it’s called iPhoto iMovie basic and all of the basic software you need. It just floors me that Microsoft can get away with this crap for so long. The sad thing is there is no sign of openoffice ever taking over. Honestly it does everything office can do except for some silly options that I’d never have time or care to learn how to use.
Windows is priced ok although they still eak out every penny for it without getting their butts busted for price gouging but seriously it’s not that amazing Mac OS is still more stable and user friendly and graphically and asthetically light years ahead of windows. Light years. If you haven’t seen the new macs you would be knocked out of your chair.
Apple’s like speaking French it looks pretty sounds pretty but most of the world cant understand a dam thing your saying. Maybe if Jobs started thinking outside the box and started licensing Apple technology things would be different.
“Dont hate the player hate the game.”