Microsoft has reached settlements with
11 computer retailers caught selling illegal software across
the UK, the software company has announced.
The traders admitted to selling computers loaded with unlicensed
copies of Microsoft's Windows operating system.
But Microsoft said the problem was not confined to the consumer
market, with counterfeit software discovered in more than a third
of corporate software reviews.
Microsoft said consumers and businesses can be exposed to
damaging losses by rogue traders.
While the software company does offer
replacement software to consumers duped by counterfeit
products, businesses and victims of rogue traders are not
covered.
Counterfeit or illegal software also exposes users to increase
risk of attack from viruses and other malware, said Graham Arthur,
anti-piracy lawyer at Microsoft.
"It is important to ensure you have genuine software that you
are confident is not harmful or a threat to IT security," he
said.
Microsoft has set up a
website aimed at helping consumers and businesses to identify
counterfeit or illegal software.
"Savvy buyers, who can tell the difference between the genuine
article and illegal or fake software, can protect their businesses
from being duped by unscrupulous retailers," said Arthur.