Microsoft’s crackdown on software piracy just hit a new milestone in Spain. Recently, a woman was sentenced to prison for installing pirated copies of Windows and Office on company computers. Reports say she installed unauthorized Microsoft software on two out of eight computers at her business.
The case was first uncovered back in 2017. So far, details on how authorities discovered the illegal activity remain unclear. Since then, the woman appealed the court’s decision twice but failed to overturn it. Ultimately, Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced her to 6 months in prison. She also faces a fine of 3,600 euros (over 100 million VND) and must pay damages equivalent to the software’s licensing fees.
This is the first time Spain has issued such a ruling. Previously, legal actions mostly targeted large-scale copyright infringement cases like illegal movie distribution.
The Supreme Court’s decision is based on Spain’s 2015 criminal code reform, which made commercial exploitation of unlicensed products and services illegal. So if you run any business in Spain using pirated Windows or Microsoft software, beware of serious consequences.
On a related note, Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, recently announced it will block users who download pirated content over its network. This move could set a precedent for other internet providers, depending on local regulations.
A Reddit user shared an email from Starlink after attempting to download a pirated movie. The company warned subscribers not to use the network for illegal downloads or risk losing access.
Starlink explained that “copyright infringement of SpaceX or third parties, trademarks, owners, or other intellectual property rights” violates their Acceptable Use Policy.
Source: Gizchina
