There's more evidence of Microsoft's get tough approach to piracy: it has "filed 26 lawsuits against alleged dealers of pirated software in seven US states," according to IDG News.
Microsoft gathered evidence against the defendants through several means. In some cases, complaints were received through Microsoft's anti-piracy hotline. In others, Microsoft purchased computers from the defendants as part of a "secret shopper" program to find dealers selling pirated software.
Based on research conducted by IDC, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) cliams 21% of US software is pirated -- the lowest rate in the world. But this piracy includes many customers who are paying heavily for software they think is legal.
