Microsoft Ltd, with eBay's assistance, has worked to combat illegal trading of software on the online auction site.
This has led to the removal of more than 21,000 software sales
items in the UK since the beginning of August 2005.
Over 21,000 individual suspected illegal trades were logged between
August and October with sales of Microsoft Windows (52%) and Microsoft
Office (36%) accounting for the bulk of suspected infringements.
Michala Alexander, Microsoft UK head of anti-piracy, says: "Our work with eBay has potentially protected more than 21,000 purchasers from the risks inherent in illegal and counterfeit software."
In August eBay removed 11,535
suspected counterfeit sales from the site, but this number fell to 4,460
in September and 5,423 in October. A band of approximately 100 suspected illegal traders accounted for more than 3,000 of the sales items.
12-Dec-2005
