Microsoft Takes Aim At Piracy With Ala., Miss. Lawsuits

Microsoft Corp. has filed lawsuits against two companies in Alabama and three companies in Mississippi in what appears to be a partly symbolic swipe at software piracy. The two states lead the U.S. in software piracy, according to research quoted by the Redmond, Wash.-based company. In announcing the suits Feb. 23, Microsoft quoted research by International Planning & Research Corp. that states the U.S. average for software piracy is 25% (one in four computers is running pirated software), and Mississippi and Alabama lead the country in the illegal act at 46.8% and 42.1% respectively. Microsoft said it used tips from a piracy hotline to investigate the companies.