WebProNews

Eight people in eight different states are being sued by Microsoft for allegedly selling pirated software on eBay. The software giant says it is hoping to send a strong message those who illegally sell counterfeit products.

The suits were filed in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, and Washington as part of the crackdown. Last year, Microsoft asked eBay to remove about 50,000 listings offering pirated software.

"Unfortunately, a number of online sellers are undermining trust in the system by using the Internet to hawk illegal products to unsuspecting consumers," said Microsoft attorney Matt Lundy.

"By filing these lawsuits, we hope that auction purchasers will understand that software offers are not always what they appear to be."

Much of the information about pirated software originated from Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage program. The program was launched last year for consumers to be sure if their software was legitimate. It also served as a kind of tip line to inform Microsoft of where the bogus software was purchased.

The Business Software Alliance estimates that 21 percent of all software sold in the US, and 35 percent sold worldwide last year was counterfeit.

Jason L. Miller is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.