Microsoft Sues VARs and Channel Resellers in Anti-Piracy Roundup

As part of Microsoft's Global Anti-Piracy Day, the company has announced lawsuits against 20 U.S. software resellers for counterfeiting. Here is a list of the resellers and a little information about Microsoft's legal counterpunch.

Microsoft has announced that it is suing 20 software resellers in the United States as part of a global anti-piracy initiative.

According to Microsoft, all of the cases involve hard disk loading and/or counterfeit software. The products involved include Office 2007 Enterprise, Microsoft Windows XP Pro, Office 2003 Pro and Office 2007 Pro.

Five of the cases originated when customers failed validation and reported the suspected piracy to Microsoft: Computers Plus, Computer Unlimited & Services, A-1 Discount Computers, Century Software Systems and Main PC USA.

Two of the cases involve what Microsoft classified as "high-quality counterfeit": JY Computer in Northridge, Calif., is accused of counterfeiting a high-quality Office 2003 Pro, and Compatible Computers in Torrington, Conn., a high-quality Office 2003 Pro.

One of the companies-Agility Corporate Solutions, of Gresham, Ore.-is a repeat offender, according to Microsoft.

Here is a list of the U.S. companies being sued, with the respective case numbers when available:

• A-1 Discount Computer Sales & Service Inc., U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida , Jacksonville Division, Case No. 3:08-cv-999-J-32JRK
• Broad Computer Center Inc., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Case No. 2:08-CV-00984
• Computers Unlimited and Services Inc., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Case No. 2:08-CV-00985
• Custom Computer 4 Less, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana , Lafayette-Opelousas Division, Case No. 6:08-cv-01569
• Hill Country Computer, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division, Case No. 4:08-cv-00396
• MainPC, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of N.Y., Case No. 08-civ-8975
• Miracle Computers LLC, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Case No. 08-cv-5772 
• Epic Computer Solutions, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Lubbock Division, Case No. 5:08-cv-00207-C 
• Best Deal Computers, Chula Vista, Calif.  
• Brereton Computer Service, Pasadena, Calif.  
• Century Software, Los Angeles  
• Computer Czech, West Hollywood, Calif.  
• Computers Plus, Chula Vista, Calif.  
• Cygma Computer, Los Angeles  
• H&C Computer, Chula Vista, Calif.  
• JY Computer, Northridge, Calif.  
• SP Computer, San Diego  
• Compatible Computers, Torrington, Conn.