Another microsoft & piracy story.
Brenda Avery, a 41-year-old mother was sued by Microsoft for selling illegal microsoft software. She was arrested and taken to court. What happened? Well several years ago she opened a webshop at home. She sold computer programs and games for children on her internet site. She was also selling some microsoft products. Microsoft company investigators checked out a purchase from Avery and found the program was pirated. Avery couldn’t afford a lawyer so se decided to defend herself.
Avery’s defence was simple and direct. She did not “knowingly” sell pirated software because she did not know she possessed pirated software.
Only a couple of pieces in her inventory were proven to be pirated, and they appeared to be properly packaged. She purchased all of her stock from suppliers in Canada and the United States. “When I cross-examined one of Microsoft’s expert witnesses, I handed her a CD and said ‘Tell me if it’s counterfeit or not?’ She couldn’t tell,” Avery said. “The bottom line was she couldn’t tell unless she opened the product and put it under magnification. I kept telling the police all along, I never opened them. How would I know?” |
So she didn’t know she was indeed selling pirated copies. So was found innocent.
Her business is closed down now. Avery who suffers from lupus disease (affects the immune system) is now demanding compensation for the loss of her business. Besides that she wants to talk to bill… go for it girl!
Source: eXite News
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