Microsoft unveils free hotline to sink software pirates

Microsoft has stepped up its efforts to combat software theft in the UK and Europe with the launch of a dedicated anti-piracy telephone hotline.

The software giant has recruited anti-piracy specialists to field calls from those who suspect companies are using Microsoft's products illegally.

Julia Phillpot, anti-piracy manager at Microsoft, said she expected the majority of calls to come from individuals blowing the whistle on former employers or resellers that suspect their competitors are selling illegal software. Microsoft expects the call centre to receive over 500 calls a month through the free phone number, (0800) 013 2222.

"The centre will protect our customers and legal sales channel from the effects of piracy," Phillpot said.

Any leads received will be investigated by Microsoft anti-piracy experts and could be passed on to local trading standards officers or anti-piracy enforcement agencies, such as the Business Software Alliance (BSA), Microsoft said.

Analyst IDC claimed there are about 840,000 Web sites that sell illegal software and pass it off as genuine.

PricewaterhouseCoopers claimed, in a recent report, that more than 31,000 jobs could be created and over £160m tax revenue could be collected if piracy levels were reduced by just four per cent in the UK. The BSA said the current UK piracy rate is 29 per cent.

Microsoft has claimed a number of victories in the UK since stepping up its anti-piracy campaign. Last December two resellers were ordered to pay £3m following a two-year investigation into their illegal activities (CRN, 12 December 1999).