Microsoft and eBay team up to stop software pirates

Microsoft and eBay have teamed up to stop people selling pirated Redmond software over the online auction site.

Apparently, eBay users have been complaining that they've been buying Microsoft goods from the via the site only to find out what they've purchased isn't the genuine article but a copy, without all the support and licensing that goes with the real software.

Microsoft has now signed up to eBay's Verified Rights Owner Programme (VeRO), which means the software giant can report when online sellers are infringing on their intellectual property rights. As a result, listings found to be on the wrong side of intellectual property law can be removed and eBay will help out Microsoft when it goes after alleged infringers.

A program will trawl eBay looking for anomalous listings and flag up any that look like they could be offering illegal or counterfeit software. Microsoft also has staff investigating any potential pirates selling their goods through the site.

There's a 'hints and tips' page available for anyone in doubt over the legitimacy of potential software purposes.

Alex Hilton, Microsoft's group manager for licence compliance, told silicon.com Microsoft had "stood back a little too much" on the issue and would be taking a "more aggressive stance" – but wasn't interested in prosecuting those who had unwittingly bought illegal software.

"Companies who buy quantities of this software run the risk of being audited by the BSA (Business Software Alliance) or FAST (Federation Against Software Theft) and at the very least having to replace all the software and spending more than they would have done in the first place," he added.

eBay is not the only place the software pirates have been selling the knock-off software. The Business Software Alliance has reported a growing number of spam emails selling the pirate software.