Microsoft’s team identified the copy as counterfeit and began
investigations which led to Monitorshop.co.uk. The
Middlesbrough-based e-tailer was shocked when it learned that it
was selling illegal copies, according to Microsoft. It had obtained
Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003 from what it thought
to be a legitimate Chinese source. It unwittingly sold over £7,000
worth of pirate software.
According to Microsoft, Paul Rowling, owner of
Monitorshop.co.uk, was extremely supportive at all stages of the
investigations. Rowling provided Microsoft with information on the
software’s source as well as with the details of all customers who
had purchased counterfeit software from his site.
Monitorshop.co.uk then helped Microsoft to recover all of the
pirate copies sold and has paid for those customers to receive full
and legitimate versions of the software.
“Monitorshop.co.uk has been in business just over two years and
we’ve prided ourselves on providing top-quality software, hardware
and gadgets at reasonable prices,” said Paul Rowling. “We were
shocked to find out that the software we’d been selling was
counterfeit and apologise unreservedly to any customers affected.
We have done everything in our powers to put the situation right
and will continue to assist Microsoft while investigations
continue."
Microsoft expressed concern that Monitorshop.co.uk, as well as
its customers, had suffered at the hands of the Chinese counterfeit
trader.
“We’re delighted that our Product Identification Service has
proved instrumental not only in closing down an illegal supply
chain, but also in helping provide genuine versions of our software
to victims of the counterfeit trail,” said Michala Alexander,
Microsoft’s head of anti-piracy. “We will continue to pursue all
vendors suspected of selling illegal software to ensure that
customers benefit from the full functionality, support and
protection of our legitimate products.”
