Bust PC builder lands ICM Computer Group with huge piracy bill

September 29, 2003

GristyMcFisty reports that UK-based ICM Computer Group has been
landed with a huge bill for buying pirated software unwittingly from an unnamed distributor. As a result of the piracy ICM has already paid Â£400,000 (roughly $ 650,000) to software giant Microsoft:

In a statement accompanying its results yesterday, ICM said it had bought the counterfeit software as part of a routine hardware and software supply agreement from a "large PC manufacturer" between two and five years ago. The vendor had a direct OEM relationship with Microsoft. However counterfeit software produced by a "major" network had found its way into ICM"s supplier.

ICM said it would have sought redress from the PC maker, except the supplier went bust in October 2002. Doesn"t ring any bells with us. any names?

Update The reader consensus was Dan Technology even though that well-known firm went bust in July 2002. The name of ICM's supplier was ASI, although how that company qualifies as a "major" PC maker escapes us.

Source: The Register