Redmond, Wash. – Microsoft sued 23 software distributors in California and Florida that it accused of selling pirated copies of Microsoft Windows and Office programs.
The lawsuits claim the companies distributed illegally copied software through the Internet or in storefront operations in violation of federal trademark and copyright laws.
Microsoft has filed 125 lawsuits against distributors of pirated software this year, compared with 56 suits last year, company senior attorney Mary Jo Schrade said. Most of the pirated software probably comes from overseas and is purchased by distributors at a deep discount and sold to consumers who are unaware that it’s not authentic, she said.
The suits, filed in San Jose, Los Angeles, Miami, Ocala and other cities in California and Florida, seek orders barring copyright infringement and other damages.
