Microsoft Sues British Electronic Dealer in Alleged Counterfeit Scam

Microsoft announced today it is suing Britain’s second-largest electronics retailer Comet for allegedly creating and selling more than 94,000 back-up discs of its Windows Vista and Windows XP product.

Comet Group PLC allegedly produced counterfeit versions of the software in a factory in Hampshire before selling them in dozens of storefronts for £14.99 each (roughly $23) across the U.K.

“Comet’s actions were unfair to customers. We expect better from retailers of Microsoft products – and our customers deserve better, too,” said David Finn, associate general counsel for Microsoft’s Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting division in a press release issued today.

According to a report in The Guardian, Comet sold the discs between March 2008 and December 2009 and potentially made the company more than £1.4 million, or $2.2 million.

Comet plans to contest Microsoft’s claim, reasoning that in producing the discs, they acted in the best interests of their customers and according to a statement posted to their site “did not infringe Microsoft’s intellectual property.”

While it’s currently owned by French company Kesa Electricals PLC, Comet is said to be in the process of being sold to a private investment partnership lead by OpCapita LLP.