Microsoft New Zealand is stepping up its fight against software piracy with the launch of its Five Plus Five program.
The firm is offering a $5000 reward for information that leads to successful legal action against any business running unlicensed Microsoft software. For each successful legal action, Microsoft may donate a further $5000 in cash to a designated New Zealand charity.
Surveys show that pirated software accounts for about 28 percent of all software in New Zealand and translates to losses of more than $28.5 million for the industry.
That is an improvement on the 1999 figure of 31 percent, according to the International Planning and Research Corporation global software piracy survey released in May.
Until the end of the year, and while stocks last, copies of Windows 98, Windows 2000 Professional, Office 2000 Small Business and Office 2000 Professional software verified as counterfeit through Microsoft’s How to Tell site will be replaced with a genuine version free of charge, subject to some terms and conditions.
Consumers wanting to report piracy or find more information can call 0800 747229 or visit https://www.microsoft.com/piracy/