Microsoft closes illegal software trader

A UK trader is to pay substantial damages for selling unlicensed applications

Microsoft's Keep IT Real anti-piracy initiative scored a victory yesterday after a major investigation led to the closure of a software dealer in Kingston-upon-Thames that had sold £3.5m of counterfeit and unlicensed Microsoft software over the past five years.

In response to a civil damages claim for £12m, William Ling, proprietor of Oyster Computers, agreed in an out-of-court settlement to pay Microsoft substantial damages and cease selling counterfeit software.

Ling was fined £10,000 for dealing in counterfeit and unlicensed Microsoft products in May last year, but within two months had resumed trading in illegal software.

Michala Alexander, head of Microsoft's anti-piracy programme in the UK welcomed the latest news, claiming in a statement that the case should serve as a warning to others. "We invest heavily in education, engineering and enforcement initiatives to combat software piracy and its inherent risks to the consumer," she added.