In some places in the world, more than 90% of all software is counterfeit. In Western Europe the rates have fallen to 34%. In the US it’s 20%. Those are shockingly high figures, and the reason Microsoft has announced Global Anti-Piracy Day, to put a spotlight on the amount of counterfeit software and try to reduce the figures.
It will take place across 49 countries and cover a range of activities, CNET reports, from seminars to lawsuits.
Microsoft associate general counsel David Finn said:
"One of the things we want to illustrate with this announcement is the diverse nature of the work."
Although Microsoft has systems in place to try and prevent counterfeiting, it still happens, with XP a very popular item, and likely to become even more so once the final “real” copies have been sold.
"Software piracy and counterfeiting is a sophisticated, global trade with a damaging impact on consumers, businesses and economies, and Microsoft is committed to working with others around the world to stay a step ahead of this illegal industry," said Finn.
