Microsoft and OpSec Security uncover pirate copies on auction portals

Unterschleißheim, 16 October 2009. OpSec Security, a company specialised in trade mark protection and Microsoft are working intensively together to combat the increasingly illegal sale of counterfeit software via auction websites. Experts from OpSec Security have, on behalf of Microsoft, been searching various online trading platforms with the help of a specially developed technology. An IDC study commissioned by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) has shown that the piracy rate in Germany is currently around 27 per cent, which accounts for software to the value of 1.55 billion Euros. These pirate copies represent a great danger for consumers as they often contain viruses, spyware or Trojans. Furthermore, the economic damage caused by piracy is enormous. The BSA claims that 19,076 auctions with 127,951 counterfeit or pirated products with a value in excess of 39 million Euros were prevented in the first half of 2009 alone. Software piracy greatly affects the development of the IT industry, one of the most important growth engines for the German economy.

When searching online trading portals and internet auction sites such as eBay or hood.de for counterfeit or unlicensed software postings, OpSec relies on automated search technology. This enables them to receive initial indications as to pirate copies. The suspect products filtered by the software are then manually examined by OpSec Security. “If our suspicion, that the product could be a pirate copy, is further substantiated, we then implement national and international test purchases," explains Hubert Neuner, Managing Director of OpSec Security. “The anonymous test purchases provide us with important information on the seller. In addition, Microsoft can clarify beyond a doubt that the purchased products are original software or indeed pirate copies and then take further action against the specific seller of the illegal software.”

96 Per cent Pirate Copies

In close cooperation with OpSec Security, Microsoft’s Product Identification Service (PID) then carefully examines the offers which have been filtered out, for genuineness. “Through our work with the trade mark protection experts of OpSec Security, we have already been able to register considerable success in our battle against online piracy," said Joachim Rosenoegger, Microsoft Germany’s Anti-Piracy Investigator. The PID service offers consumers and companies the opportunity to check their software, free of charge, if they are not sure whether it is original software or not. Since this service was launched in 1999, Microsoft has been able to check over 240,000 sent-in or seized products for genuineness. An examination of such products revealed 96 per cent were illegal. The sender usually receives information on the genuineness of the unaltered product within 24 hours of it being received by Microsoft. "Consumers and companies who have purchased unlicensed software expose themselves, sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly, to the risk that they may be prosecuted under civil or even criminal law for this illegal use, by the respective owner of the rights to the product. This can lead to claims for damages and costly court proceedings." explains Dr. Swantje Richters, attorney at Microsoft Deutschland GmbH.

Further Information

BSA accepts any information on unlicensed software in Germany via the free hotline 08000 999 992 or at www.bsa.de.

An announcement from the BSA on this topic is available here:
http://www.bsa.org/country/News%20and%20Events/News%20Archives/de/2009/de-09022009-enforcement.aspx
 
The Sixth Annual BSA and IDC Global Software Piracy Study can be downloaded here: http://global.bsa.org/globalpiracy2008/index.html
 
Information on the Microsoft PID-Service is available here: http://www.microsoft.com/germany/piraterie/pidservice.mspx.
 
A digital press pack on the topic of software piracy including images, background information, studies etc, is available here: http://www.microsoft.com/germany/presseservice/pressemappe.mspx?id=532326
 
The images related to this announcement are available from our image database in the folder, “Lizenzierung”
 
• Online-Piraten auf der Spur
 
 
About OpSec:

OpSec Security GmbH (formerly P4M GmbH—Die InternetAgenten) based in Munich, Germany is part of OpSec Security, Inc., which is part of the OpSec Security Group plc (London AIM: OSG). OpSec Security is the global leader in providing anti-counterfeiting technologies, as well as solutions and services for physical and online brand protection, to over 300 brand owners and over 50 governments worldwide. The Group operates manufacturing facilities and laboratories in the USA and the UK, and has sales operations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Further information is available at: www.opsecsecurity.com.

Microsoft Deutschland GmbH
Microsoft Deutschland GmbH is a subsidiary, founded in 1983, of the Microsoft Corporation/Redmond, USA, the world leader in the production of standard software, services and solutions with annual revenues of 58.44 billion US Dollar (financial year 2009; 30 June 2009). The operating profit in the financial year 2009, was 20.36 billion US dollars. In addition to the headquarters in Unterschließheim, near Munich, Microsoft Deutschland GmbH operates six regional offices and employs over 2,200 staff. In connection with around 31,500 partner companies, Microsoft Deutschland GmbH serves companies of all sizes across all industries. The European Microsoft Innovation Center (EMIC) was opened in Aachen in May 2003. Its research focus is in IT security, data protection, mobility, mobile applications and web services.

Contact Person Microsoft
Astrid Aupperle
Communications Manager
Microsoft Deutschland GmbH
 
2009-159 BusC

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16 October 2009

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