How to Report Suspected Piracy
Counterfeit Software Gallery
The following are examples of high-grade counterfeits. Look for differences such as a holographic sticker being used in place of the embedded hologram on the disc, poor print quality and lack of COAs adhered to packaging, and security threads that are printed onto the COA rather than being separate, interwoven threads.
High-grade Counterfeit COAs and POL Labels
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COUNTERFEIT: Office Professional 2007
Posted on February 24, 2009
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The Port-Hole™ oval has a clean cut inside edge rather than showing threads.
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COUNTERFEIT: Microsoft Office Professional 2007
Posted on February 24, 2009
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The Port-Hole™ oval has a clean cut inside edge rather than showing threads.
The simulated thread is visible through a cut out rectangle rather than interwoven.
The background image is not created by the repeated words "MICROSOFT CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY", in blue letters on a white background.
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COUNTERFEIT: Windows XP Professional
Posted on February 24, 2009
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The Port-Holes™ have a clean cut inside edge rather than showing threads.
The simulated thread is visible through a cut out rectangle rather than interwoven.
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COUNTERFEIT: Windows XP Professional
Posted on February 24, 2009
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The Port-Holes™ have a clean cut inside edge rather than showing threads.
The simulated thread is visible through a cut out rectangle rather than interwoven.
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COUNTERFEIT: Windows Vista Business
Posted on February 24, 2009
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The Port-Holes™ have a clean cut inside edge rather than showing threads.
The simulated thread is visible through a cut out rectangle rather than interwoven.
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COUNTERFEIT: Office Professional 2007
Posted on February 24, 2009
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This proof of license label is missing an interwoven thread.
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COUNTERFEIT: Windows XP Professional
Posted on January 1, 2006
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The rectangular window at the bottom of the embedded thread is cleanly punched out and too large for the size of the holographic thread which is present.
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COUNTERFEIT: Windows XP Professional
Posted on January 1, 2006
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The Port-Hole™ oval has a clean cut inside edge rather than showing threads.
The simulated thread visible inside the rectangular window at the bottom of the thread is misaligned with the window.
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COUNTERFEIT: Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003
Posted on January 1, 2006
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The Certificate of Authenticity just has vertical print on the right side rather than an interwoven thread.
High-grade Counterfeit Discs
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COUNTERFEIT: Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003
Posted on January 1, 2006
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The copper edge-to-edge hologram is a sticker adhered to the face of the disc rather than an embedded image. You can feel the edge of the sticker.
The Inner Mirror Band Hologram is a sticker adhered to the face of the disc rather than an embedded image.
The stereogram is low quality (left); it should be a high resolution image (right).
In the security patch, the word "Microsoft" does not change to "GENUINE" when the disc is tilted.
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COUNTERFEIT: Windows XP Professional
Posted on January 1, 2006
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The copper edge-to-edge hologram is a sticker adhered to the face of the disc rather than an embedded image. You can feel the edge of the sticker.
The Inner Mirror Band Hologram is a sticker adhered to the face of the disc rather than an embedded image.
The stereogram is low quality (left); it should be a high resolution image (right).
The copper hologram has a low quality rough edge (left) rather than a smooth feathered edge (right).
High-grade Counterfeit Packaging
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COUNTERFEIT: Windows XP Professional
Posted on January 1, 2006
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Where there should be a line of microtype, there is just a solid line.