EBay removed 11,535 suspected counterfeit software sales from its site in August
Microsoft and eBay hook up to catch pirates
/v3-uk/news/1992259/microsoft-ebay-hook-catch-pirates
07 Dec 2005, Ken Young , V3
Microsoft and eBay are working together to stop the sale of pirated software on the online auction site.
The companies said in a statement that over 21,000 suspect software sales were removed from the eBay UK site between August and October this year.
Around half were sales of counterfeit copies of Windows, and 36 per cent were fake copies of Microsoft Office.
Microsoft claimed that the crackdown is working because eBay removed 11,535 suspected counterfeit sales from the site in August. This fell to 4,460 in September and 5,423 in October.
But many sellers have insisted that eBay is not doing enough to tackle fraud. Richard Coleman, a regular eBay user from Luton, said: "I have been the victim of at least three fraudsters. One was a mobile phone that did not exist, another was a registration code for an online gaming service that was illegal, and the third was a pirated DVD.
"When you tell eBay they do not really help you. They informed us that the registration code we had was pirated but failed to recompense us for the cost.
"If I was buying software I would expect about 10 per cent to be pirated or fake. The only way you can tell is by comparing the pricing of a number of sellers. If it looks too good it is probably dodgy."
EBay stated that it does not monitor its website for fake goods, but removes infringing items once they have been brought to its attention by the rights owner or its representative.
The company has set up the Verified Rights Owners Programme to assist rights owners. Participants have the ability to identify and request removal of allegedly infringing items and materials.
But regular users of the site have pointed out that some software sellers put in writing that buyers are bidding for the box rather than the CD containing the software as a way of getting round the laws against piracy.
EBay has confirmed that such wording is not illegal but is against eBay's own rules for selling recordable media.
Other critics suggest that eBay fraudsters have little fear of the law due to lack of real punishment for such offences.
Last month Phillip Shortman was given a 240-hour community service order after scamming thousands of pounds out of victims of a rugby ticket fraud.
The case was somewhat high profile because Shortman was already on a 12-month detention and training order after being convicted of similar frauds totaling £45,000 in May 2005.
After his conviction he had said that he was planning to become an advisor to eBay in a poacher-turned-gamekeeper capacity.
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