AUPIRACY

$739m commercial loss in Australia - Global software piracy study finds

aupiracy — Wed, 30 May 2012 02:19:47 GMT

It’s not every day that someone freely admits to criminal behaviour. Yet in BSA’s (Business Software Alliance) ninth annual Global Software Piracy Study, more than half of the world’s computer users readily concede they steal software.

What does this mean for Australia? In 2011 the Australian trend in software piracy continues to decrease by 1% each year, over last 8 years. However, 23% of new software installed was pirated in 2011 with the commercial value of this pirated software totalling $739m. Mislicensing of software continues to be a key contributor to this commercial revenue loss in Australia.

What can you do about it?

Anonymously report piracy or noncompliance through the Business Software Alliance, BSA today.

“Trial” Windows 7 does not exist

aupiracy — Mon, 28 May 2012 03:52:00 GMT

Microsoft commenced proceedings in the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia and obtained damages of $116,000 against iiBuy and injunctions restraining iiBuy from infringing Microsoft’s copyright.

iiBuy supplied to a Microsoft Investigator on 30 November 2010 and 8 March 2011, computers loaded with “trial” versions of Windows 7. Microsoft does not provide “trial” versions of Windows 7. The computers supplied to the Microsoft Investigator were installed with unauthorised copies of Windows 7. iiBuy offered computer systems for sale on eBay and from their website www.iibuy.com.au.

Return to www.microsoft.com.au/piracy for more information on software piracy.

Online Counterfeit Seller Shut Down

aupiracy — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 03:12:00 GMT

Magix Digital Centre Pty Ltd operated a website at www.magixdigital.com. Magix Digital sold
counterfeit copies of Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010 from its
website. On 2 December 2011, Microsoft commenced proceedings against Magix Digital. On 27
February 2012, Magix was found to have infringed Microsoft’s copyright in the
Office and Windows software products and was ordered to pay $32,000 by way of
damages. Microsoft also obtained orders restraining Magix Digital from
importing or selling any software made without the licence of Microsoft. Magix Digital no longer
appears to be selling from www.magixdigital.com.

Return to www.microsoft.com.au/piracy for more information on software piracy.

$50,000 Laptop Factory Outlet pay compensation

aupiracy — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:47:00 GMT

Laptop Factory Outlet agrees to pay $50,000 compensation for infringing Microsoft copyright

Microsoft is urging anyone who has purchased a Windows PC from the Laptop Factory Outlet to contact the retailer to ensure they have a genuine copy installed

SYDNEY, Australia – 20^thOctober 2011: Microsoft Australia has today announced that The Laptop Factory Outlet Pty Ltd, of South Granville, NSW, has agreed to pay $50,000 in damages for
infringing Microsoft’s copyright by reusing Microsoft Windows Certificates of Authenticity (COA) from second-hand PCs on new PCs loaded with pirated software.

The Laptop Factory Outlet (LFO) is a large retailer of PCs and laptops, which trades from premises at South Granville and its website, www.lfo.com.au. Anyone who has purchased a Windows PC
from LFO should contact the retailer. As part of the settlement, LFO has agreed to replace the counterfeit software with genuine product and affix the associated correct COA to the PC for its
customers at no extra charge. Following Microsoft’s investigations, the company’s directors admitted to purchasing second-hand PCs, pulling the COAs off them and reusing them on new PCs loaded
with counterfeit software, which were then sold on to their customers.

Clayton Noble, Attorney, Microsoft Pty Limited encourages consumers to look out for the tell-tale signs of counterfeit software: “If a Certificate of Authenticity affixed to your new PC appears used or tampered with, or names a PC manufacturer that doesn’t match the PC you bought, this is an indication of counterfeit software pre-loaded onto your PC. Other indicators of counterfeit software are discussed on Microsoft’s website, which helps empower consumers to make informed software purchases and avoid counterfeit-related risks. If your software is not genuine, you cannot be sure of what you’re getting.”

Noble adds, “Tampering with Certificates of Authenticity can [BT(1] trick consumers into buying software that is not genuine and properly licensed. This can expose them to the potential dangers of counterfeit software, including the risk that it comprises malware which causes computer viruses, or key-logging software that can be used to steal identities.”

Every year, millions of consumers and businesses are hurt by counterfeit software which they have acquired inadvertently.

Microsoft encourages businesses and consumers looking to purchase software to consider several tips to help ensure their product is legitimate:

Always purchase from a reputable reseller. Do your homework and think about whether the reseller will give you after sales service if you have a problem.
If purchasing from an online auction trading site, beware. Check the online seller’s price against the estimated retail value of the software. If the price for software seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Be especially cautious when dealing with software sellers in other countries. The physical distance, differences in legal systems and other factors can complicate matters if the transaction goes awry.
Avoid sellers offering “back-up” copies or compilations of software titles from different publishers on a single disk, these are clear indications that the software is illegal.
Be sure that your security software is up-to-date, as counterfeit software may contain malware.
When purchasing a disk containing Microsoft software go to http://www.microsoft.com/genuineto ensure it is genuine be sure the following materials are included:
- A Certificate of Authenticity
- A hologram DVD
- High-quality product packing and documentation

For further information on how to tell if the software you are buying is genuine visit the Microsoft website at http://www.microsoft.com/en-au/howtotell/.

Ms Miettinen pays $5000 compensation to Microsoft for selling fake software

aupiracy — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:22:03 GMT

Ebay seller Marika Miettinen of Coogee NSW, was found to have been selling unauthorised copies of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office software between November 2010 and February 2011. Ms Miettinen settled
Microsoft’s claim for damages out of court, with a payment of $5000.

Return to www.microsoft.com.au/piracy for more information on software piracy.