Microsoft conducts raid in Bloom Electronics shop

Microsoft's recent raid in Coimbatore city has left the market in jitters. About a week back, Microsoft conducted a software piracy raid at Bloom Electronics, which is a leading reseller in the city. It is understood that the raid had been carried out by Microsoft's legal agency from Delhi, along with the Delhi High Court-appointed lawyer-commissioner. 

It is also further said that the concerned authorities have seized some materials
(HDDs and CPUs) from the shop and served a notice to Bloom Electronics to give its response on or before October 5, 2005 in Delhi High Court. Confirming the raid, G
Sundaram, Director of Bloom Electronics said, "We are not guilty. They do not have any proof against us for loading pirated/ unlicensed software on to the system and selling it in the market. We are clean and would emerge as a winner in this case."

Microsoft has however declined to comment on this issue, saying it is under the purview of its legal wing. Of late, Microsoft is very aggressive in its anti-piracy initiatives and has conducted several raids across the country recently. While, in some cases it went for a simple settlement with the resellers by accepting an undertaking from them that they would not deal with pirated software anymore, in other issues it has filed a legal suit and fighting out in the court. 

Lately, the company won a case in its favor, where the Delhi High Court had ordered Compton Computers to pay Rs 23.62 lakh as damage to Microsoft for indulging in loading pirated or unlicensed Microsoft software onto the computers assembled and sold to the customers.

Meanwhile, the resellers in the local market are quite worried about the frequent raids conducted by the vendors. "It really affects our business and the resellers are nervous who would be next. The fear puts us down in business," said a leading reseller operating out from the same market. "Microsoft should educate the buyers (customers) first who demand for pirated/ unlicensed software from the resellers and Microsoft's anti-piracy campaigns and initiatives should be targeted at them."

"We are very sure about dealing with only licensed products. Even if a customer demands for pirated/ unlicensed software to be loaded on to their system, we just provide them the components / products and leave it to them. Today, end-customers have good contacts to get pirated software easily," said another leading reseller.

"Bloom Electronics has all proof that it sold only components to the customer and we have not involved in any unlawful activities. Microsoft and its team had carried out the raid when the directors (my son S Karthikeyan and I) were not in the company. They ransacked our office and took some products in possession. All their accusations are baseless and we will prove them wrong," said
Sundaram.

DQW News Bureau

Chennai