Microsoft's legal cudgel swings towards 55 pirates in 11 countries

Microsoft has again taken action, accelerating lawsuits against 55 online dealers across 11 countries. These dealers have been selling pirated Microsoft software through websites like eBay and have ignored Microsoft's warning letters.

Geographically, among these 55 pirates, 15 are in the United States, 10 each in Germany and the Netherlands, 5 each in France and the UK, with several others located in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Korea, Mexico, and Poland.

Most of the pirates were caught as part of Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program. Under this initiative, consumers can report piracy and receive a free legitimate copy of Windows.

A Microsoft research report indicates that 34% of pirated Windows XP discs fail to install, while another 43% contain additional programs or even malware. A report from IDC points out that pirate users typically download key generators and crack tools via websites or P2P networks, with 11% and 59% chances respectively of such downloads bringing malicious software or code to the user.