eBay Targets Fake Microsoft Software Auctions   12/14/2005 - 1,192 views,

According to reports, in just a three month period, and on just eBay’s UK site alone, more than 21,000 auctions were identified as offering illegal copies of Microsoft products. The most common auctions of pirated Microsoft software involved Windows XP and Office.

Well, they do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but I don’t think that extends to wholesale counterfeiting.

According to a Microsoft spokesperson, in the vast majority of the cases the seller is well aware that they are selling illegal goods. Sometimes the software is on a plain CD rom, clearly burned by someone. In other cases the product is a genuine commercial version, but has “not for resale” clearly indicated - even on the picture used in the eBay auction.

But that is only half of the equation. Sellers wouldn’t sell if buyers didn’t buy. And while some times the buyer may not realize that they are buying a pirated product, often times they do.

So don’t do it.