14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft goes on with its efforts to reduce software piracy around the world with a new lawsuit, this time targeting Australia’s Super Radio Network and its founder Bill Caralis.
Together with Adobe, Microsoft filed lawsuits against four different radio stations, while a separate case against 25 other stations is also considered right now, according to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Microsoft claims that radio stations 2DU and Zoo FM used unlicensed software of Windows and Office on its computers, so it’s trying not only to force the company to remove and destroy the illegal apps, but also to obtain damages or an amount from profits.
Young, 2LF and Roccy FM, three other radio stations also owned by Caralis, are also accused of using pirated copies of Windows.
The two companies have reportedly obtained an internal email sent by Radio Network's head technician Allan Bone to an employee explaining the process of cracking Windows and thus skip the protection set in place by Microsoft.
“As you know, m*cro$oft has started a validation program which basically will discontinue your windows update and security patches if you did not actually paid for your copy of MS Windows Operating System or if you installed an aftermarket copy that was not paid for [sic],” Allan Bone wrote in the email. “With this crack, you can once again keep updating your windows and the security patches.”
Microsoft and Adobe are also calling for users who can provide additional information on the case to report it at bsa.org in order to join the fight against piracy and thus help the two companies in their legal action against the Super Radio Network.
“A court order application has been lodged asking the court to demand that other stations within the [Super Radio Network] produce documents about the status of their software use and whether that software is licenced,” Microsoft attorney Clayton Noble was quoted as saying to Daily Liberal.