Following a test purchase of a PC by the South African Police Service from Beachware Computers, Microsoft is suing the Durban-based computer retailer for R100 000 for alleged copyright infringement damages.
Microsoft has accused Beachware of pre-loading its Windows 98 SE Command.com file, which allows the computer to boot up. Microsoft says that the Command.com file is copyright material protected in terms of the copyright laws of South Africa.
According to Darryl Taylor, Beachware managing director, the company will be contesting the action. Taylor says that the PC was purchased from his company by a private investigator 15 months ago. He adds that he has not received any training from Microsoft regarding its policy on piracy.
"We support Microsoft in a big way," says Taylor. "It`s quite unfair the way they`ve gone about it." Taylor says that Beachware was not contacted by Microsoft before receiving the summons.
The steps taken against Beachware Computers follow a similar action taken against Johannesburg-based Computer Chronics for the alleged hard disk loading of the Command.com file.
Earlier in the year Microsoft issued summons against Keystone Information Service Group for R1.2 million in damages for alleged copyright infringement of Microsoft products.
Keystone purportedly supplied the Mpumalanga Department of Education with 347 PCs containing unlicensed Microsoft software.
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