Symantec sues over software piracy

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 May 2007 5:42 User comments (14)

Symantec, the makers of Norton products and other software announced on Wednesday that it was suing 8 different companies it accuses of illegally copying its products. The company is seeking $55 million USD in damages.

Symantec is just the latest company to resort to legal action as an effort to fight piracy. Industry reports tell us that piracy costs software makers billions of dollars in lost revenue every year.

For each of its cases, Symantec is asking for a jury trial and a range of $4 to 10 million USD in damages from each company it is accusing.

The businesses named are Acortech.com of California; m-Plus International Technology Inc. of Florida; Logical Plus Inc. of New York; SoftwareOutlets.com Inc. of Florida; Rowcal Distribution of California; Global Impact Inc. of Florida; and eDirect Software of Canada. Most of the sales were conducted online, Symantec said.

Symantec alleges the companies "engaged in trademark infringement, copyright infringement, fraud, unfair competition, trafficking in counterfeit labels and documentation, and false advertising".

The cases are also seeking permanent injunctions on future sales of the alleged pirated software.

Source:
Yahoo!

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14 user comments

120.5.2007 18:04

kjvsword

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Junior Member

What companies are they suing? It's sort of hard to comment when you don't know the whole story.

220.5.2007 18:08

jchien

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Newbie

Quote:
Symantec alleges the companies (of) "...unfair competition..."

Wow, that is such a sad story! Boo hoo! Unfair competition...

For all I care, they can go cry on their own shoulder!

320.5.2007 18:14

DVDBack23

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Staff Member

Originally posted by kjvsword:
What companies are they suing? It's sort of hard to comment when you don't know the whole story.

Updated. ;)

420.5.2007 18:14

PeaInAPod

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AfterDawn Addict

I wouldn't pirate Symnatec software it's junk to begin with.

520.5.2007 18:16

kaosX

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Senior Member

psh.. who would pirate symanctec? ill take some ghost software, but your antivirus, well, shoudl we say... THAR SHE BLOWS!

620.5.2007 18:51

tatsh

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Ugh. I can't believe people would pirate Symantec software at all. If you are gonna pirate anything, make it NOD32 right? I'd rather see people use free AVG or Avast! on their PC (and if you own a business but don't want to pay licensing, use ClamWin).

After using Ubuntu for the past month, I have very few reasons to use Windows, and I use Ubuntu primarily now. I've always tried to avoid pirating software for the past 2 years now (not because I feel bad, but to minimise risks in the future). There are usually open source/free software that's equal or superior to commercial stuff. I stopped pirating Photoshop and use Gimp entirely and I will only use Inkscape or another free software for vector graphics, etc.

With the amount of free legal software out there (especially GPL software), I see no reason for people to pirate their software. And for most games, you get the on-line experience if you purchase the game and there are few to no workarounds for that for pirates.

720.5.2007 19:21

ZippyDSM

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AfterDawn Addict

*L*
like buying a 5 year AV from bestbuy or whoever for 40$ if you dont sale our sht at retail price and give us a cut we are going to sue!!

God forbid they sale new Avs for a reasonable price 50+ is insane.

820.5.2007 19:29

ZippyDSM

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AfterDawn Addict

Originally posted by ZIppyDSM:
*L*
like buying a 5 year AV from bestbuy or whoever for 40$ if you dont sale our sht at retail price and give us a cut we are going to sue!!

God forbid they sale new Avs for a reasonable price 50+ is insane.

tatsh

meh why not force keys to a sever check like Trendmicro dose that will cut pirating in half or altogether hell I buy my Trendmicro PC cillin from ebay at 25(with shiping) a year suscriptions. beats there 40-70$ schemes at their web site.

920.5.2007 23:47

borhan9

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AfterDawn Addict

We should be suing them for the crap they made people fall for in regards to the new version of NIS 2007. although i bought it cheap its not worth even the $45 i payed for it.

1022.5.2007 18:23

Unfocused

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How is it their right to sue for "False Advertising?" Are these companies bragging that they are using the software?

1124.5.2007 16:29

duckNrun

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I have thought of using eDirectsoftware.com and a friend of mine did. His software came to him as a Gateway computer OEM disc that was clearly NOT a fake.

Seems to me that they are arguing the same thing Microsoft did which is that only certain types of sales can be made to certain purchasers. MS says that even if the disc is Authentic that the software is not if it is bought by a private consumer and was meant for a system builder or PC company. Seems like this is also going to be Symantec-Bloats theory as well.

Oh well... I only use Ghost from them. Dumped the other crap awhile back.

1224.5.2007 16:48

ZippyDSM

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AfterDawn Addict

Originally posted by duckNrun:
I have thought of using eDirectsoftware.com and a friend of mine did. His software came to him as a Gateway computer OEM disc that was clearly NOT a fake.

Seems to me that they are arguing the same thing Microsoft did which is that only certain types of sales can be made to certain purchasers. MS says that even if the disc is Authentic that the software is not if it is bought by a private consumer and was meant for a system builder or PC company. Seems like this is also going to be Symantec-Bloats theory as well.

Oh well... I only use Ghost from them. Dumped the other crap awhile back.

I genrealy ignore the BS they spout they can claim foul use all they want.

the rest of the high brands in the AV field have pretty much gone to the crapper.

1324.5.2007 17:32

ZippyDSM

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I love ebay if I wanted it I could get Norton IS 07 for 24$ and SW for under 30.

really they need to learn whatever their price scheme is is to damn high and halve the price.

1425.5.2007 12:02

spydah

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Junior Member

In my own opinion they are lucky somebody is willing to pirate Norton and their other products because they really suck. I dont know whos winning the suckiest anti-virus race them or McAfee lol. They are the main ones when a virus and so forth gets in your pc it doesnt detect it until its done its damage. lol

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Symantec sues over software piracy

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