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Microsoft sues Lake City business
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A-1 discount faces lawsuit.
By TONY BRITT
tbritt@lakecityreporter.com
A Lake City computer and service store is being sued by Microsoft Corporation. The lawsuit claims the store distributed counterfeit and infringing Microsoft software.
A-1 Discount Computer Sales and Service, Inc., 211 SW Knox St., has been named as a defendant in the case, which was filed Monday in U.S. District Court, for the Middle District of Florida, in Jacksonville.
Michael Drotzer, of A-1 Discount Computer Sales and Service, declined Wednesday to comment on the case and pending legal proceedings.
Sharon Cates, a Microsoft anti-piracy attorney, said the suit was part of Microsoft Global Anti-piracy Day and part of enforcement efforts in 49 countries on six continents. She said in the United States there were 20 lawsuits filed in nine states — all civil cases filed in federal court against companies who are selling counterfeit software or infringing software.
According to the case file complaint, the suit is being filed by Microsoft Corporation to recover damages arising from infringement of Microsoft’s copyrights and trademarks in its software programs by A-1 Discount Computer Sales and Service and Maryann Drotzer and Michael Drotzer.
“This is a company we’ve been getting reports on since 2000, from customers who call into our hotline,” Cates said. “We like to give these companies warnings to tell them what they are doing is wrong. Several cease and desist letters were sent. We talked to them until we were blue in the face. We don’t have any choice at that point but to file a lawsuit.”
The court complaint says the Drotzers have infringed Microsoft’s copyrights and trademarks, violated the Lanham Act — which contains federal statutes governing trademark law — by falsely designating the origin of software and engaged in unfair competition.
Cates said the alleged violations are a common problem and accused the Drotzers of engaging in “hard-loading,” or taking software and loading it onto several computers.
“It really causes a problem for the customer. We’re bringing the lawsuits because we really want to help the customers,” Cates said. “This particular company we have anecdotal evidence and we know it’s been going on, but until we go through the discovery process we wont know the extent of the problem they are creating.”
She urged customers who may be the victims of piracy to call 1-800-R-U-Legit.
Microsoft attorneys say they are unable to disclose the specific damages they are seeking in the case.
A-1 Discount Computer Sales and Service, Inc., 211 SW Knox St., has been named as a defendant in the case, which was filed Monday in U.S. District Court, for the Middle District of Florida, in Jacksonville.
Michael Drotzer, of A-1 Discount Computer Sales and Service, declined Wednesday to comment on the case and pending legal proceedings.
Sharon Cates, a Microsoft anti-piracy attorney, said the suit was part of Microsoft Global Anti-piracy Day and part of enforcement efforts in 49 countries on six continents. She said in the United States there were 20 lawsuits filed in nine states — all civil cases filed in federal court against companies who are selling counterfeit software or infringing software.
According to the case file complaint, the suit is being filed by Microsoft Corporation to recover damages arising from infringement of Microsoft’s copyrights and trademarks in its software programs by A-1 Discount Computer Sales and Service and Maryann Drotzer and Michael Drotzer.
“This is a company we’ve been getting reports on since 2000, from customers who call into our hotline,” Cates said. “We like to give these companies warnings to tell them what they are doing is wrong. Several cease and desist letters were sent. We talked to them until we were blue in the face. We don’t have any choice at that point but to file a lawsuit.”
The court complaint says the Drotzers have infringed Microsoft’s copyrights and trademarks, violated the Lanham Act — which contains federal statutes governing trademark law — by falsely designating the origin of software and engaged in unfair competition.
Cates said the alleged violations are a common problem and accused the Drotzers of engaging in “hard-loading,” or taking software and loading it onto several computers.
“It really causes a problem for the customer. We’re bringing the lawsuits because we really want to help the customers,” Cates said. “This particular company we have anecdotal evidence and we know it’s been going on, but until we go through the discovery process we wont know the extent of the problem they are creating.”
She urged customers who may be the victims of piracy to call 1-800-R-U-Legit.
Microsoft attorneys say they are unable to disclose the specific damages they are seeking in the case.
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