Microsoft has accused high street retailer Comet of creating and selling more than 94,000 counterfeit copies of Windows recovery discs.

The software giant has issued legal proceedings against the Comet Group for selling the alleged counterfeits to customers that bought computers loaded with Windows Vista and Windows XP.

“As detailed in the complaint filed today, Comet produced and sold thousands of counterfeit Windows CDs to unsuspecting customers in the United Kingdom,” said David Finn, associate general counsel for worldwide anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting at Microsoft.

“Comet’s actions were unfair to customers. We expect better from retailers of Microsoft products — and our customers deserve better, too.”

According to Microsoft, the legal action charges Comet with producing the counterfeits in a factory in Hampshire and then selling the media to customers at retail outlets around Britain.

Comet has yet to respond to requests for comment on the issue, but the action comes at a critical time for the company. Comet is currently owned by French retailer Kesa Electricals, but is expected to be sold to private equity firm OpCapita this year.

Microsoft said customers concerned that software was fake should visit the company's How to tell website.

Code:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/howtotell/default.aspx