Counterfeit software and Ebay/Microsoft

Les McLean

Les McLean

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Do E-bay and/or Microsoft care about dodgy sellers peddling computers with pirated software....I don't think they do.

A while ago I wanted a cheap desktop for my grandson, bought one of E-bay, only to find although it was advertised with Win7 (and I sent a message to the seller asking him to confirm that it was genuine...which he did), the computer arrived and it was obvious that the win 7 operating system was counterfeit. Although I resolved satisfactorily the transaction, it did leave me feeling none of the big corporations give a toss about software piracy.

Firstly, as soon as I realised the software was counterfeit, I reported the item to E-bay, explaining that the software was counterfeit, they did nothing, so I reported it again, their only response was to pull the auction, which was a bit pointless as the auction had ended with me buying the item, adding a further frustration that has it had been removed, I couldn't give negative feedback.

I also contacted Microsoft and reported the piracy to them, providing screenshots to support the report, suggesting if they want further information (name address of seller etc) I could provide this, never even got an acknowledgment from Microsoft.

As the seller obviously came from the shallow end of the gene pool, he was stupid enough to leave a pirated copy of 'Call of Duty-black ops' on the machine, so I contacted Activision, giving them similar information as I had Microsoft, they weren't interested?

I also contacted our local trading standards, went through the same process, not even an acknowledgment.

I'm realistic enough to realise that it's unlikely that any of the organisations are going to shoot with ****** at 50 paces the offending seller, and that it's just a small pinprick compared to the massive counterfeiting going on in some of the Asian countries, but somewhere along the line, if they are serious about software piracy, they are gonna have to listen to the small man/woman in the street.
 
i think they concentrate more these days on the bigger targets that distribute the software via torrents for example. the average joe at home with a hooky copy of office is unlikely to get pinged.

in my opinion.
 
Les, although I admire your honesty and integrity on this subject, I reckon most folks on here won't give two hoots..............for obvious reasons.
 
neil_g said:
i think they concentrate more these days on the bigger targets that distribute the software via torrents for example. the average joe at home with a hooky copy of office is unlikely to get pinged.

in my opinion.
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+1..;)
 
neil_g said:
i think they concentrate more these days on the bigger targets that distribute the software via torrents for example. the average Joe at home with a hooky copy of office is unlikely to get pinged.

in my opinion.
Click to expand...


I think you are right Neil, but what gets up my nose is the total cynicism of the big organisations, they constantly beat their corporate breast about piracy/counterfeiting and encourage average Joe to report it, when at the end of the day someone like E-bay still get their fees when it's obvious the Louis Vuitton handbag was knocked up in a Bangkok backstreet :)
 
Les McLean said:
I think you are right Neil, but what gets up my nose is the total cynicism of the big organisations, they constantly beat their corporate breast about piracy/counterfeiting and encourage average Joe to report it, when at the end of the day someone like E-bay still get their fees when it's obvious the Louis Vuitton handbag was knocked up in a Bangkok backstreet :)
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true, i think it may be a time and cost factor involved too.

i imagine it would be more beneficial on court costs etc (i know the likes of MS arent exactly skint..) to drag a big player through the courts and potentially stop 100,000's copies being distibuted.
 
wegotitugetit said:
a company around here got fined by microsoft for using a dodgy office

something like £50,000

so they are staring to do something but this is the 1st i heared of anything like it
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yes companies are also getting random spot checks more these days.

we had one not so long ago, we have an OVS agreement though so if we were a couple of OS/Office licences short (lets face it, it happens over 100's of machines) we just tacked them on.
 
I think that it is difficult for the large companies to act on a second hand computer.
How can they prove that the person that you are reporting, knew that the software on the computer had been copied illegally, and not just sold to them as being genuine.
You bought the computer thinking it was genuine, the same excuse could be made by the seller.

@ the other poster
And it is a little unfair to tar everyone, and saying that we are all running illegal software.
Are you admitting that all of your software is not legal?
 
I don't understand why you (the op) didn't just send all the info you had when you first contacted MS about it, instead of offering the rest of it 'if they wanted'. From their point of view it would cost far too much to go chasing down evidence on one possible case against one person. Add to that, the copy of win7 on the machine you bought would most likely have fallen over the first time you or it tried to get updates, so MS wouldn't have been out of pocket there.

I will admit to using 'field evaluation' copies of software in the past when money was tight, nowadays everything I have is legit, not just because I can afford it but because I realise that piracy like any other crime is never victimless.
 
Steep said:
I don't understand why you (the op) didn't just send all the info you had when you first contacted MS about it, instead of offering the rest of it 'if they wanted'. .
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I did provide evidence of piracy (screen grabs etc), but I reckoned if they were at all serious about chasing the 'pirate' they would have come back at me and asked for his name/address.
 
coldpenguin said:
.
How can they prove that the person that you are reporting, knew that the software on the computer had been copied illegally, and not just sold to them as being genuine.
You bought the computer thinking it was genuine, the same excuse could be made by the seller.
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Good point, but in this instance when I first contacted him regarding the counterfeit sofware he suggested I go to some dodgy warez site to d/l an 'activation key', also he left evidence on the machine of when and where he d/l the pirated copy of 'Call of Duty -black -ops '.

So if any of the organisations wanted 'proof' it was all there on the machine or via E-bay messages.
 
I work for a very small software company. We wouldn't pursue people through the courts for using unlicensed copies of our software. The time and cost of doing it would not be worth it.

I don't think Microsoft have fined anyone £50,000, incidentally. Copyright violation is a civil matter which has to be pursued through the courts and the courts will make a judgement on the level of damages ;). It only becomes a criminal matter when it is done on a large scale.
 
Why should Ebay give a hoot.

They are effectively the ONLY online auction site and they know it.

(Yes, I am aware that there are others but no comparison)

Until they lose this momopoly they are a law unto themselves.


PS. Incidentally has anyone got a 'spare' copy of PS? :)
 
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EBay couldn't give a stuff. I reported a guy who sold me a counterfeit copy of Photoshop. They sent me a standard email saying how seriously they take fraud and then promptly did nothing. The guy is still selling software, they're still making money. :shrug:

Andy.
 
rizla01 said:
Why should Ebay give a hoot.

They are effectively the ONLY online auction site and they know it.

(Yes, I am aware that there are others but no comparison)

Until they lose this momopoly they are a law unto themselves.


PS. Incidentally has anyone got a 'spare' copy of PS? :)
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Too true I'm afraid, that's probably why a lot of folk have deserted the place, I used to buy and sell quite a lot at one time, I now keep away (thank the lord for TP buy/sell forum :) ) unless I have specifically need something I can't source elsewhere.
Andyman said:
EBay couldn't give a stuff. I reported a guy who sold me a counterfeit copy of Photoshop. They sent me a standard email saying how seriously they take fraud and then promptly did nothing. The guy is still selling software, they're still making money. :shrug:

Andy.
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That's probably what gets me the most, companies like E-bay making pious statements about combating counterfeiting/piracy and then do nowt about it, reading through the community forum on E-bay (I know, I need to get out more), it seems a lot of people have been ripped off big time, losing hundreds of pounds, luckily I didn't lose out, but I hate seeing cowboys getting away with this sort of fraud.
 
rizla01 said:
.


PS. Incidentally has anyone got a 'spare' copy of PS? :)
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try Ebay :lol:

seriously though, I bought a so called legit Lion King Disney DVD, described as new and sealed. When it came it was new and sealed, then I opened it and lo and behold, we have a fake, although a pretty good one probably from Asia.

I complained to Ebay about the seller who had sold quite a few and explained that the DVD was in fact a fake, The seller was shut down straight away :)

so they are trying
 
Scotty Pro said:
I complained to Ebay about the seller who had sold quite a few and explained that the DVD was in fact a fake, The seller was shut down straight away :)

so they are trying
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Thats the trouble with Fleabay, they rely on "victims" to report dodgy traders. They should be getting them themselves - BEFORE we suffer.
 
I was using a pirated copy of office 2003 for quite a few years until one day I received notification (whilst using outlook) that I was using an illegal copy and was given 30 days to remove it or they would do so (microsoft)
 
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