My Windows 7 copy looks fake. Typo on back cover. Came from China.

So I decided to buy Windows 7 from eBay. I didn't trust the people selling product keys only, so I purchased a brand new retail package. When I shop on eBay, I always look for sellers that are really close to me so shipping is fast. So I found a seller, said to be located in Maryland (which is two states away from me), with a great price and great feedback for his W7 sells. I was pissed because when the guy sent me the tracking number, I found out that the item was coming from Beijing, China, not Maryland! But I figured, well at least he shipped it.

THEN, I get an email from eBay saying the listing for the item I just purchased because the copyright holder reported that the item may be a counterfeit. At first I was pissed at eBay because now I had to record of the transaction in my eBay account and could not contact the seller directly from within the item invoice, since eBay deleted. Plus, he had several other sells of this same item, all with positive feedback of the W7 package, and eBay did not remove the listings for them. So I was like, why me? Luckily, I had his email from paypal and contacted him. He assured me that he is the legal owner of the item and that he sent proof to eBay saying so. Still never got my records back.

Anyway, this prompted me to search counterfeit Windows 7 retail packages. I found some interesting info, but my package doesn't fit any of the counterfeit profiles Microsoft says to look out for. The top hologram is built onto the cds, not stickers. Both my CD's have holograms on the small inner ring on the data side of the disks. The COA has the correct print inter-wooven into it and says Made in Puerto Rico. The Product Key passed PID check and activation. The three digit key everyone talks about is 068 (not 065, 066, or 067). And overall, the package looks extremely genuine...unless you actually look for counterfeit features, which I have found that leads me to believe this was not made by Microsoft.

Firstly, the MAJOR thing I found that prompted this whole suspicion. On the back cover, in the second foot not under the features bullet list, there is a TYPO. Referring to XP Mode, it is says "2. Requires download of Windows XP Mode (which tuns on Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate)..." Notice it says "tuns on Windows 7..." instead of "runs on Windows 7..."! Being that the T key is right next to the R on a QWERTY keyboard, this leads me to believe this is human error. Aren't these things manufactured in a factory or something, by robots and machines...and Quality Controlled??? Also, all the text under the bullet list is not that sharp, like it was printed on an inkjet. Also, all that text under the bullet list is yellow. I believe on a genuine copy, that text is white, no? Here is the picture link:




Here's the front cover. Nothing really to note here, that I can see:




Another major flaw I found was on the top of the 32-Bit disc. Notice that in relation to the Microsoft/Genuine hologram at the top right and the large Windows 7 hologram at the bottom, the text on the center of the disc is is upside down and some of the black coating is chipped off:



The 64-Bit disc is just about perfect, other than some slight chipping of the black coating:




The COA looks really authentic other than the barcode being shaped different than the one on the Windows 7 counterfeit page, even though the SKU number is the same. Another interesting note, if I take my barcode scanner app on my iphone and scan the barcode on the MS website, it comes up as "Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Full (From $137 online / $269.99 local)." When I scan the barcode on my physical COA, I get "Windows 7 Ult English DVD (From $85 online)." I don't know what the different could be, because the SKU numbers in the barcodes match.




Another thing I noticed was some ink smeared on a page of the information booklet.




Lastly, the text and pictures in the info booklet are not that clear and look like poor inkjet printing:




So, what do you guys think? I'm scared to report this to MS in fear of them making my key blacklisted. But I am also afraid that my key might get blacklisted in the future, even though it doesn't have characteristics of an MSDN product key! Other than that stuff I noticed, it installed fine!

Have you tried contacting ebay?:

eBay Buyer Protection

James

Did you pay with PayPal?

I have won 3 cases with eBay Buyer Protection & PayPal in the past.
It takes time, but it works when fraud / counterfeit is involved.

Yes, I used paypal. However, I haven't made a claim since I haven't proved yet that this is in fact fake, especially since the product key passed activation and the genuine check. I ran the MS How To Tell app with Silverlight, but it only shows XP and Vista.

Did the package actually come from outside the USA ? Has the seller been suspended or expelled from eBay ?

QUOTE

Counterfeit software

Show all
How can I report counterfeit software?

Software counterfeiting harms unsuspecting people, legitimate businesses, and our economy. If you feel that you might have inadvertently received counterfeit software, or if you have information about a person, business, or online site that might be selling counterfeit software, you can file an online report. The report you submit will be treated by Microsoft as confidential. Microsoft devotes substantial time and energy to fighting software counterfeiting, and you can be assured that we will take appropriate action in response to your report.
To file a counterfeit report, visit the Microsoft* How to Tell website.
UNQUOTE

From; Genuine Windows: frequently asked questions - Microsoft Windows

If they bust a counterfeiter they will probably give you a legal copy as a thank you!


Regards....Mike Connor

I think your best bet would be to contact with Microsoft and confirm with them.
See, if microsoft confirms that the product is genuine then there's nothing to worry about.
But what if that's fake? Sooner or later, MS will blacklist it. (MS is very active in this).
You can take actions if it's fake. May be, get a refund too...

Mike Connor said:

QUOTE

Counterfeit software

Show all
How can I report counterfeit software?

Software counterfeiting harms unsuspecting people, legitimate businesses, and our economy. If you feel that you might have inadvertently received counterfeit software, or if you have information about a person, business, or online site that might be selling counterfeit software, you can file an online report. The report you submit will be treated by Microsoft as confidential. Microsoft devotes substantial time and energy to fighting software counterfeiting, and you can be assured that we will take appropriate action in response to your report.
To file a counterfeit report, visit the Microsoft* How to Tell website.
UNQUOTE

From; Genuine Windows: frequently asked questions - Microsoft Windows

If they bust a counterfeiter they will probably give you a legal copy as a thank you!


Regards....Mike Connor

Click to expand...

I just spent an hour filling this out, only to get an error two times in a row!

MPC Head said:

I just spent an hour filling this out, only to get an error two times in a row!

Click to expand...

You don't mention the error, but having cookies disabled when filling out forms can cause issues.

James

Hi MPC Head, sorry to hear about your dilemma and hope you get it sorted.

One thing that I'm adamant about is getting my software from reputable places, especially my OS. The way I see it, I have to put my sensitive data on that OS, my thoughts and ideas on that Office suite, my creativity on that imaging program.

Point, this is data that I value very much and looking for cheap deals in dark alleys is akin to gambling in Vegas. Let's not forget.... the house always wins.

Don’t gamble your data with spotty software vendors. You never know what they did to, or with the software, or where it’s coming from. Sometimes cheap comes with a high price.

Legitimate software from legitimate vendors equals piece of mind, and secure data.

My two cents.

sygnus21 said:

Hi MPC Head, sorry to hear about your dilemma and hope you get it sorted.

One thing that I'm adamant about is getting my software from reputable places, especially my OS. The way I see it, I have to put my sensitive data on that OS, my thoughts and ideas on that Office suite, my creativity on that imaging program.

Point, this is data that I value very much and looking for cheap deals in dark alleys is akin to gambling in Vegas. Let's not forget.... the house always wins.

Don’t gamble your data with spotty software vendors. You never know what they did to, or with the software, or where it’s coming from. Sometimes cheap comes with a high price.

Legitimate software from legitimate vendors equals piece of mind, and secure data.

My two cents.

Click to expand...

I didn't know counterfeit OS's even existed until this whole situation. I have been using XP since 2002, and all my OS's where preinstalled with the PC's I've bought. This is the first time ever I shopped for an OS only, since this is for my custom built tower. I'm new to the OS shopping "game"! I was just a consumer shopping on eBay like I do a lot of stuff!

Understand, and unfortunately innocent customers like you are usually the ones taken advantage of. I would say let this be a lesson learned and pass it on so that other are aware.

Anyway let’s hope this whole ordeal is a misunderstanding, if not, let’s hope it gets sorted.

MPC Head said:

I didn't know counterfeit OS's even existed until this whole situation. I have been using XP since 2002, and all my OS's where preinstalled with the PC's I've bought. This is the first time ever I shopped for an OS only, since this is for my custom built tower. I'm new to the OS shopping "game"! I was just a consumer shopping on eBay like I do a lot of stuff!

Click to expand...

That's why a lot of people get caught, they simply don't know about or expect these things. Happens a lot more than you might think.

Wanna buy a Rolex for half price?

Regards....Mike Connor

Believe it or not I was at a computer sale where they get a bunch of vendors together in one place for those huge sales. Well to my utter surprise they had a vendor there who was actually "selling" Vista service pack 2 disks for $9.99! I couldn't believe it and actually reported him to the event staff.

Don't know what they did about it but how many unsuspecting customers got got on that one :shock:

My surmise would be that if the OS came from outside the US, I would say it's a bootleg copy. As far as getting your money back, I really doubt it. After all, he was/is in the "business" to make fast money and run. In the words of Fiona Glenann, "If something is too good to be true, it's best to shoot it, just in case."

I hope you get the information you're looking for.

I would agree with the couple comments above - just call Microsoft. They can tell you exactly whether your copy is genuine or counterfeit. You've clearly made the effort to buy it legally, it does not seem to be illegal to buy software on eBay per se, moreover, the activation and automatic "genuine-ness" test were successful. So in fact, you suspicions are based on that eBay email, sent to you after the sale was concluded and some typographic flaws of the package. The place of origin in my opinion is less suspicious - after all, 90% of stuff in your house is from China. So, if you just tell all that to Microsoft, I am sure they will be willing to help you establish whether your software is in fact fake or real, and will probably give you a legal copy for your effort. In any case, it's a free call.

Mike Connor said:

QUOTE

Counterfeit software

Show all
How can I report counterfeit software?

Software counterfeiting harms unsuspecting people, legitimate businesses, and our economy. If you feel that you might have inadvertently received counterfeit software, or if you have information about a person, business, or online site that might be selling counterfeit software, you can file an online report. The report you submit will be treated by Microsoft as confidential. Microsoft devotes substantial time and energy to fighting software counterfeiting, and you can be assured that we will take appropriate action in response to your report.
To file a counterfeit report, visit the Microsoft* How to Tell website.
UNQUOTE

From; Genuine Windows: frequently asked questions - Microsoft Windows

If they bust a counterfeiter they will probably give you a legal copy as a thank you!


Regards....Mike Connor

Click to expand...

Sadly you dont get anything.... I found a website selling blatant fake OEM (ASUS, DELL, ETC). I just got an email saying thank you and we can give you any further information regarding this. A few weeks later the website had all that merchandise pulled.

unifex said:

I would agree with the couple comments above - just call Microsoft. They can tell you exactly whether your copy is genuine or counterfeit. You've clearly made the effort to buy it legally, it does not seem to be illegal to buy software on eBay per se, moreover, the activation and automatic "genuine-ness" test were successful. So in fact, you suspicions are based on that eBay email, sent to you after the sale was concluded and some typographic flaws of the package. The place of origin in my opinion is less suspicious - after all, 90% of stuff in your house is from China. So, if you just tell all that to Microsoft, I am sure they will be willing to help you establish whether your software is in fact fake or real, and will probably give you a legal copy for your effort...

Click to expand...

I don't think so. Whether the software the OP purchased was genuine or bogus is irrelevant. He didn't buy it from Microsoft. Buying a product on eBay isn't illegal, but a vendor who sells a Microsoft product without having a license from Microsoft is liable for commiting a civil wrong -- a tort. And a buyer who knowingly purchases a Microsoft product from a vendor without a license is equally guilty. Microsoft isn't going to help the OP because the OP did exactly what Microsoft is telling people NOT to do. Microsoft is aggressively trying to protect its products from sellers who are not licensed by Microsoft to sell its products. This OP went to a 3rd party seller to buy a Microsoft product at a lower price. And got stung!!! That's what can happen when you buy one company's product from someone else. He would have reaped the benefit of buying the software for a lower price, and the other side of the coin is that he has to also bear the risk of the product being defective.

It's not that we haven't all done it --- it's just that if we do, we have to bear the risk of doing so.

Imperfect1 said:

He didn't buy it from Microsoft. Buying a product on eBay isn't illegal, but a vendor who sells a Microsoft product without having a license from Microsoft is liable for commiting a civil wrong -- a tort.

Click to expand...

To be clear you CAN purchase Microsoft products from 3rd party vendors/companies as long as they are licensed and authorized to do so..... otherwise Best Buy, Amazon, CompUSA, and a host of "brand name" computer stores and OEM manufactures wouldn't be able to seel Microsoft products legally.

Imperfect1 said:

Buying a product on eBay isn't illegal, but a vendor who sells a Microsoft product without having a license from Microsoft is liable for commiting a civil wrong -- a tort. And a buyer who knowingly purchases a Microsoft product from a vendor without a license is equally guilty.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure I agree here. Yes you should always get your products from reputable dealers/vendors, but If I went into a computer store and bought a product with an OS installed I'm not going to know if the store is "legal" or not. And in reality, almost no one is going to ask to see a license authorizing the place to sell Microsoft products.

I also think you need to take into consideration that the OP IS trying to find out if the item is genuine so that he can take actions against the seller. After all that is why he posted his situation here

Lastly I think e-bay needs to bear some responsibility here as well since they knowingly allowed this seller to build a fan base selling presumably "fake" copies of Microsoft products. Where was that protection to customers they talk about?

Imperfect1 said:

This OP went to a 3rd party seller to buy a Microsoft product at a lower price. And got stung!!! That's what can happen when you buy one company's product from someone else.

Click to expand...

So.....

Since I bought a copy of Adobe Photoshop CS5 from Amazon.com for $169.95 instead of the $199.99 charged at the Adobe store, that makes the transaction illegal?

That if the item was counterfeit I should expect it because Amazon is selling it below cost?

And that I would be wrong because I didn't ask Amazon if they were authorized to sell Adobe products?

Are you also stating that 3rd party vendors like Amazon aren’t authorized to sell software?

I do agree that you should only get your products from "authorized" vendors, but that doesn't mean that because a vendor is selling below costs they trying to rip you off. It means are authorized “reputable” sellers trying to get you to shop with them!

My two cents.

sygnus21 said:

Imperfect1 said:

He didn't buy it from Microsoft. Buying a product on eBay isn't illegal, but a vendor who sells a Microsoft product without having a license from Microsoft is liable for commiting a civil wrong -- a tort.

Click to expand...

To be clear you CAN purchase Microsoft products from 3rd party vendors/companies as long as they are licensed and authorized to do so..... otherwise Best Buy, Amazon, CompUSA, and a host of "brand name" computer stores and OEM manufactures wouldn't be able to seel Microsoft products legally.

Imperfect1 said:

Buying a product on eBay isn't illegal, but a vendor who sells a Microsoft product without having a license from Microsoft is liable for commiting a civil wrong -- a tort. And a buyer who knowingly purchases a Microsoft product from a vendor without a license is equally guilty.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure I agree here. Yes you should always get your products from reputable dealers/vendors, but If I went into a computer store and bought a product with an OS installed I'm not going to know if the store is "legal" or not. And in reality, almost no one is going to ask to see a license authorizing the place to sell Microsoft products.

I also think you need to take into consideration that the OP IS trying to find out if the item is genuine so that he can take actions against the seller. After all that is why he posted his situation here

Lastly I think e-bay needs to bear some responsibility here as well since they knowingly allowed this seller to build a fan base selling presumably "fake" copies of Microsoft products. Where was that protection to customers they talk about?

Imperfect1 said:

This OP went to a 3rd party seller to buy a Microsoft product at a lower price. And got stung!!! That's what can happen when you buy one company's product from someone else.

Click to expand...

So.....

Since I bought a copy of Adobe Photoshop CS5 from Amazon.com for $169.95 instead of the $199.99 charged at the Adobe store, that makes the transaction illegal?

That if the item was counterfeit I should expect it because Amazon is selling it below cost?

And that I would be wrong because I didn't ask Amazon if they were authorized to sell Adobe products?

Are you also stating that 3rd party vendors like Amazon aren’t authorized to sell software?

I do agree that you should only get your products from "authorized" vendors, but that doesn't mean that because a vendor is selling below costs they trying to rip you off. It means are authorized “reputable” sellers trying to get you to shop with them!

My two cents.

Click to expand...

As long as the 3rd party vendor is licensed to sell the products, they may do so. BestBuy, Amazon.com, CompUSA, etc. all have license agreements with the authorized representatives of the products they sell. Ebay is a different story. Some vendors who sell products on eBay may actually have gone to the trouble and expense of obtaining a license, but I would surmise that most have not. And I think the public pretty well knows that. In any event, I'm sure you've heard the old adage that "Ignorance of the law is no excuse." There is truth to that. The responsibility is on the buyer to make sure he/she is buying a product from a licensed seller, not the other way around. The fact that the OP is merely trying to find out whether or not his/her software is genuine does not take away from the fact that he/she purchased the product from an unlicensed seller and now has no recourse from Microsoft because this is exactly what Microsoft is spending millions of dollars to prevent. This is BIG BUSINESS and these companies are not playing!