With Windows Vista and the close integration of the Windows Genuine Advantage mechanism, Microsoft has taken an option to actively protect the operating system against piracy, on top of what activation has to offer. And while Service Pack 1 for Vista removed the Reduced Functionality Mode kill-switch from the latest Windows client, as the Redmond company applauded the evolution of its anti-piracy measures, Microsoft has additional options to fight software counterfeiters. Just to prove that WGA on Windows did its job, the company is in the process of introducing Office Genuine Advantage for the Office System. But at the same time, Microsoft is working to stop the problem at the source.

This is a move that can only benefit both the company's consumers and partners as Microsoft is laboring to ensure that its software products available on the market are not only genuine but also properly licensed. In this context, the Redmond company announced the debut of new legal actions against eight software vendors from the U.S., Canada, Egypt and the Netherlands. The Redmond company revealed that the lawsuits were generated by customer complaints after having purchased unlicensed Microsoft software products and components.

"We want customers to receive the best possible experience with our products, including the benefits of support and service that come with the purchase of licensed, genuine software," said Bonnie MacNaughton, senior attorney at Microsoft. "The legal actions announced today are part of our ongoing commitment to protect consumers and support our partners by preventing dishonest dealers from selling unlicensed software. The unlawful distribution and sale of this software has tangible, negative consequences for the marketplace. It undermines Microsoft's legitimate partners and deceives customers who think they are receiving the full value of what they paid for, but instead unknowingly receive unlicensed software."

The software dealers that had allegedly distributed illegal software were involved in selling either Student Media or Volume License products as standalone offerings, as well as in trafficking Certificate of Authenticity (COA) labels. Microsoft revealed that the software dealers offered the software solutions as fully licensed retail products, and even accompanied the diverted software with the unauthorized product keys necessary for the installation and activation processes. The Redmond company pointed the finger at HW Trading BV and its principal, Samir Abdalla, alleging that the dealer received an excess of $3.7 million between May 2006 and May 2007 from just three U.S. dealers. But HW Trading BV and Samir Abdalla are just two of the examples of dealers that are illegally abusing the software distribution process for profit.