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12/01/2004: "Comrade Bill"
Comrade Bill
I subscribe, just for kicks, to the Microsoft System Builder Newsletter. It's sent out to computer system manufacturers as a kind of official party line in re: Microsoft software. This creepy e-mail graced my inbox this morning:
Dear US System Builder,
There is no legitimate way to buy a stand-alone Certificate of Authenticity (COA). A COA Label should always be accompanied by Genuine Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Software.*
Microsoft is dedicated to protecting honest and legitimate resellers from Certificate of Authenticity (COA) piracy. As part of our commitment, we recently filed lawsuits against the following companies:
- Affordable Computer Warehouse of Clinton, NY for allegedly distributing counterfeit COA labels and infringing Windows XP and Office XP Professional software.
- ERA Limited of Lake Zurich, IL for allegedly distributing counterfeit COA labels, plus counterfeit Microsoft software and/or related components.
- Kenneth Xu of Union City, CA for allegedly distributing counterfeit COA labels and Microsoft software components.
- Master Computer, Inc. of State College, PA for allegedly distributing counterfeit COA labels for Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, as well as infringing Windows 2000 Professional software.
- Micro Info Tech (USA) Corporation Edison, NJ for allegedly distributing computers with unauthorized copies of Microsoft software.
- Monarch Technology, Inc. of San Clemente, CA for allegedly distributing counterfeit COA labels and Microsoft software.
- Software Provisions, Vancouver, WA for allegedly distributing counterfeit COA labels plus counterfeit Windows ME software components.
- Warp Systems/Computers LLC of Raleigh, NC for allegedly distributing computers with unauthorized copies of Microsoft software.
These are just some of the examples of how we continue to take legal action against software piracy and infringement. For more information on these judgments and other cases of software and software component infringement, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/coastandalone
To be sure the software you get is genuine, acquire from one of our Authorized Distributors. For a list of Authorized Distributors, please visit http://oem.microsoft.com/BuyAuthorized
For an additional Authorized Distributor special offer, please visit http://oem.microsoft.com/script/contentPage.aspx?pageid=553742
* Genuine Windows software comes shrink-wrapped in a package that includes the manual, the media with an edge-to-edge hologram, and the COA affixed to the shrink-wrap.
(c) 2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Sincerely,
US System Builder Communications Team
Is it me, or does this read like an indictment from Andrey Vyshinsky, complete down to the list of counterrevolutionaries?
Creepy.
