Copyright Infringement Complaint from Microsoft

Copyright Infringement Complaint from Microsoft

Thanks to our friends at prohosting.com, I was able to get a copy of the sort of complaints that Microsoft makes about my CD Key web page. Their e-mail is listed below. It is interesting that they seem to intentionally mix up the publishing of copyrighted material without authorization (which is clearly illegal) with the publication of things related to copyrighted works (which is not illegal per se). They also borrow terminology from the Digital Millenium Copyright Act without actually saying that it applies.

THIRD Demand for Immediate Take-Down: Notice of Infringing Activity

URL: http://balder.prohosting.com/bcarr/programs/XPKey.exe

CASE #: 30047

19 March 2003

Dear Sir or Madam,

Microsoft has received information that the domain listed above, which
appears to be on servers under your control, is offering unlicensed
copies of, or is engaged in other unauthorized activities relating to
copyrighted computer programs published by Microsoft.

1. Identification of copyrighted works:

Computer program(s): 
Windows XP Professional
Office XP Professional
Visio 2002 Professional
Windows 98 Second Edition

Copyright owner(s): 

Microsoft Corporation

2. Infringing material or activity found at the following location(s):

http://balder.prohosting.com/bcarr/programs/XPKey.exe

The above location is offering 'Cracks' or 'Product Keys', intended to
circumvent technical measures that control access to Microsoft's
copyrighted works and that protect Microsoft's copyrights in those
works.

3. Statement of authority: 

I hereby certify under penalty of perjury that the information in this
notice is accurate and that I am authorized to act on behalf of
Microsoft, the owner of the copyright(s) in the work(s) identified
above. I have a good faith belief that none of the materials or
activities listed above have been authorized by Microsoft, its agents,
or the law.

We hereby give notice of these activities to you and request that you
take expeditious action to remove or disable access to the material
described above, and thereby prevent the unauthorized distribution of
these cracks and product keys via your company's network. 
We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Please advise us
regarding what actions you take.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Anaman

Internet Investigator for Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
United States of America
E-mail: Internet1@microsoft-antipiracy.com
Page last updated March 19, 2003