Microsoft Targets Spokane Company
Microsoft Corp. has filed a complaint against a Spokane computer company in U.S. District Court for allegedly selling counterfeit copies of Windows ‘95 and Office Professional ‘97 last year.
James Le, the 26-year-old CEO of Alpine Industries Computers Inc., denies the software giant’s claims, saying, “They put a lawsuit in to make us look guilty.”
According to Microsoft’s complaint, undercover investigators purchased a copy of Office Professional ‘97 from Alpine on Oct. 27, 1998. The software was then analyzed by Microsoft and allegedly found to be counterfeit.
After the analysis, Microsoft maintains it sent a letter to Alpine on Dec. 11, informing the company of its discovery and asking Alpine to stop selling the product.
One week after the letter was sent, Microsoft investigators returned to Alpine and bought a copy of Windows ‘95, which was later tested and also allegedly found to be counterfeit, Microsoft claims.
Microsoft filed suit against Alpine last week, along with six other Washington software businesses, as part of its ongoing crackdown on software piracy both in the Northwest and around the country.
Alpine has two locations, one on Argonne Road in the Valley and one at Lincoln Heights on the South Hill. Microsoft’s complaint does not identify the site where it bought the supposedly counterfeit software products.
Le said his company has been in business for two years. It employs 10 people and plans to open two more Spokane-area locations.
Le said Alpine mainly sells custom-built computers. It also sells a variety of other hardware and software products, he said.
In December, Le said, Alpine placed an advertisement in The Spokesman-Review, offering Office Professional ‘97 for $200. According to Microsoft’s Web page, Office Professional ‘97 has an estimated retail price of $600. An upgrade version carries a suggested retail price of $350, a company spokeswoman said.
Anne Murphy, a corporate attorney for Microsoft, said Microsoft received more than 10 complaints about the software Alpine was selling.
“It’s only when these reports persist that we take the next step, which is legal action,” Murphy said.
Regarding the allegedly counterfeit version of Windows ‘95 that was bought at Alpine, Le said he has never sold the Windows ‘95 retail - only as part of computer packages that customers buy.
Le said he purchased some Microsoft software several months ago from a Miami distributor called Yes Man.
A Yes Man representative could not be reached on Wednesday.
“I still think the products are real and I have no knowledge of them being fake,” Le said.
In its suit, Microsoft is seeking the profits made on the sale of the allegedly counterfeit software as well as an unspecified amount in damages.