In brief Microsoft is cracking down on software pirates who hawk their wares through online auction sites. Redmond has filed eight lawsuits in the US against sellers it claims sold counterfeit MS software via eBay. The company said it became aware of seven of the alleged pirates through customer submissions to its Windows Genuine Advantage program. It said it also monitors auction sites, and requested 50,000 takedowns of dodgy deals last year.®

Related stories

• Gorbachev tells Gates to leave the pirates alone (6 February 2007)
• Symantec claws $100k from Calif. eBay pirates (23 November 2006)
• Microsoft goes for eBay pirates (31 October 2006)
• eBay pursued by fashionistas (21 September 2006)
• Microsoft sets attack dogs on 20 'illegal' dealers (19 September 2006)
• Microsoft takes private action on pirate (22 May 2006)
• eBay anti-virus pirates sued (17 May 2006)
• Chinese PC makers told to install legal OS (12 April 2006)
• German downloaders face two years' prison (29 March 2006)
• Microsoft reveals piracy battle plan for the UK (20 February 2006)
• Microsoft targets pirate partners (20 December 2005)
• Microsoft tackles pirate software firm (9 December 2005)
• Letters Software piracy: BSA walks the plank (9 December 2005)
• E-tailer unwittingly sold counterfeit software (1 December 2005)