Microsoft sues Comet over Windows ‘counterfeits’
Electrical retailer Comet is being sued by Microsoft following accusations that it has been selling counterfeit copies of Windows XP and Windows Vista recovery disks.
Microsoft alleges that Comet produced over 94,000 illegal copies of Windows recovery discs and sold them to customers who purchased Windows-loaded PCs and laptops.
The suit charges Comet with producing the counterfeits in a factory in Hampshire and then selling the media to customers from its retail outlets across the UK.
“As detailed in the complaint filed today, Comet produced and sold thousands of counterfeit Windows CDs to unsuspecting customers in the United Kingdom,” Microsoft’s associate general counsel for worldwide anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting David Finn said.
He added: “Comet’s actions were unfair to customers. We expect better from retailers of Microsoft products — and our customers deserve better, too.”
Comet is currently owned by French retailer Kesa Electricals although it is in the process of being purchased by private equity firm OpCapita LLP.
