The increasing popularity of online auctions created the premises for another worldwide phenomenon: software piracy.

Microsoft didn’t give up the fight against piracy, and recently filed 63 legal actions in 12 countries across the globe against auctioneers selling counterfeit software on the Internet. The cases also include the famous “Blue Edition” of Windows XP, among other pirated software products.

This is the result of months of receiving complaints from customers who had been deceived by the online offers. Microsoft learnt that the Windows XP “Blue Edition” so many have reported to be fake was sold by New Zealand auctioneers to consumers in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the U.K., and the U.S.

The software apparently originated from a base in New Zealand, but it was shipped to customers in the United States directly from China, in what appeared to be a true piracy network.

David Finn, associate general counsel for Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting at Microsoft, explained that dishonest auctioneers use online auction sites to take advantage of unsuspecting customers.

“These dealers are peddling bogus products that can put customers and their personal information at serious risk,” Finn said.

Microsoft said the growth of Internet auction sites has also made it possible for pirated software to become a global phenomenon, with purchases available from all over the world. Even the most experienced online shoppers can be tricked by counterfeit resellers, the company said.

Many of the pirated offers are posted on sites such as eBay, but Microsoft did not appear to hold the website responsible for promoting the piracy. On the contrary, eBay, as well as other similar platforms, actively cooperate in the fight against piracy.