You can buy or sell pirated Microsoft software on eBay auctions but if Microsoft finds out, they will probably sue you.

Microsoft routinely checks ebay and other auction sites for pirated software copies. Last year, nearly 50,000 auctions were shut down for offering pirated copies of Microsoft products.



Today, Microsoft has filed cases against eBay sellers who were selling pirated Microsoft software on eBay though eBay is not named as a defendant in any of the suits.

How did Microsoft trace the software pirates ?
Most of the pirates were identified when their eBay customers attemped to validate stuff using Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program. Complaints were also made to the company’s anti-piracy hotline, 1-800-RU-LEGIT (785-3448).

No wonder if Adobe (Macromedia), Corel, Autodesk and others take the Microsoft path soon.