Microsoft Takes Legal Action Against U.K. Retailer Comet

[btarunr]

Microsoft Corp. today issued proceedings against Comet Group PLC for allegedly creating and selling more than 94,000 sets of counterfeit Windows Vista and Windows XP recovery CDs. The alleged counterfeits were sold to customers who had purchased Windows-loaded PCs and laptops.

"As detailed in the complaint filed today, Comet produced and sold thousands of counterfeit Windows CDs to unsuspecting customers in the United Kingdom," said David Finn, associate general counsel, Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting at Microsoft. "Comet's actions were unfair to customers. We expect better from retailers of Microsoft products - and our customers deserve better, too."

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 U.K.

Comet is currently owned by French retail company Kesa Electricals PLC, although it is reportedly being purchased by private equity firm OpCapita LLP later this year.

With an emphasis on education, engineering and enforcement, Microsoft seeks to protect its customers from counterfeiting and piracy - and ensure people get what they pay for. If customers ever question the legitimacy of their software, be it a shrink-wrapped product or recovery media, they are advised to visit http://www.howtotell.com to learn more and, if they have any doubt, report the suspicious software to Microsoft.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[wiak]

someone needs to sue microsoft for not including the original installation disc
so that this wont be a issue anymore

 

[Widjaja]

someone needs to sue microsoft for not including the original installation disc
so that this wont be a issue anymore

I think what this company was doing was selling the recovery discs for a premium which should rather be a service offered to the client as nowadays systems as you mentioned do not come with recovery discs, instead the consumer gets a pop up reminding them to make recovery discs which they usually neglect to do.

So I can see how this company may have been in the wrong.

 

[wiak]

I think what this company was doing was selling the recovery discs for a premium which should rather be a service offered to the client as nowadays systems as you mentioned do not come with recovery discs, instead the consumer gets a pop up reminding them to make recovery discs which they usually neglect to do.

So I can see how this company may have been in the wrong.

agree

 

[Frick]

someone needs to sue microsoft for not including the original installation disc
so that this wont be a issue anymore

You would have to sue the OEM's for that. It has nothing to do with MS.

But this is good stuff imo. If they charged a premium for restoration discs they're a shady bunch.

 

[BlackOmega]

This is stupid, unless they were selling bogus keys right along with it.

 

[HossHuge]

MS would have a field day here in Taiwan.
A friend of mine had a new computer build for him and was given 2 copied discs (One English, one Chinese). Both of them with Windows Vista on them. When he asked if they were legal they said they are legal in Taiwan.....

 

[qubit]

I'm not surprised at this. Comet hasn't been doing well for years and this was probably one way they were trying to save money, except it's fraud.

Last I heard, they were going to be shut down in a year or so, but then this buyout happened. After this, they may well not be the same kind of shop or business as you see now. Essentially Comet and Dixons Group can't compete with better offerings online. When you compare their products, you see that they often sell an older model at prices much greater than the latest one at Amazon or similar outfits.

 

[Mussels]

MS would have a field day here in Taiwan.
A friend of mine had a new computer build for him and was given 2 copied discs (One English, one Chinese). Both of them with Windows Vista on them. When he asked if they were legal they said they are legal in Taiwan.....

no one would care if they offered recovery disks, unless they started charging for them and claiming they were legit MS ones...

 

[FreedomEclipse]

When you compare their products, you see that they often sell an older model at prices much greater than the latest one at Amazon or similar outfits.

there are two different mark ups....

Theres ONLINE/WEB pricing then theres IN STORE pricing where you can walk in, have a gander at their 3D tvs on display and physically pick up your goods in person and pay for it at the cashier.

Comet were ALWAYS more expensive and their insurance cover is a total rip off...£100 for ONE YEAR - No Thank you, If my shit breaks, I will just hire a Qualified electrician to have a gander for a lot lot less....

Amazon can offer cheaper goods not just because they are a bigger company in general, but they can order a much bigger bulk from the manufacturers and the savings are passed on to the consumers.