Microsoft is cracking down on piracy by launching 63 legal actions around the world against companies and individuals selling counterfeit versions of its software.

The drive is focusing on sales of pirated software in online auction houses, with seven of the actions taking place in the UK.

Products allegedly for sale included fake versions of Windows and Office 2003 and Office 2007.

"By taking legal action against these alleged counterfeiters, Microsoft is helping ensure that consumers around the world are protected from those who sell counterfeit software over the internet," said David Finn of Microsoft.

Online auction giant eBay supported Microsoft's drive and said that less than four per cent of almost 1.4 million listings of Microsoft products on eBay over the past 20 months were for counterfeit software.

Mary Huser, eBay's vice-president of intellectual property said: "Because of eBay's extensive anti-counterfeiting efforts, customer protection programmes and the partnerships with companies such as Microsoft, buyers can be confident that eBay is one of the safest places to shop online for authentic goods."

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www.ebay.co.uk

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