Microsoft is suing alleged software pirates across six US states for selling illegal goods via the Internet. According to Microsoft, three of the defendants were flogging fake software through online auction sites, and at least two relied on spamming via email. All used the Inernet as their primary forum for distributing the software, it said. The software giant has filed legal action and asked for injunctions to stop the individuals offering and distributing the goods. One of the companies, Capital One, is also accused of having forged email headers and disguising the source of its emails to pass fake software off as genuine. Those hit with the legal action are: Abu Salahuddin, Morgantown, W. Va: for alleged distribution of counterfeit Office 97 Professional Edition via Internet auctions. Capital One CDRom Warehouse, aka Internet Marketing, of Corpus Christi, Texas: for alleged distribution of counterfeit Office Professional 97 via mail as advertised through mass unsolicited e-mail. KT Services, aka Vantage Software, Pacific Ventures, Los Angeles: for alleged distribution of counterfeit Microsoft Windows 98 operating system and Office Professional 97, via various Web sites as advertised through unsolicited e-mails. http://www.vantages.com, http://www.softwareselect.com,http://mall5.register.com, http://www.cdsales.com, http://www.ebiz5.com, http://www.kts1.com,http://www.cheapy.net, http://208.12.66.216, http://63.68.194.43, http://63.68.194.44 Martin Johns, Fond Du Lac, Wis: for alleged distribution of counterfeit Office Professional 97 via Internet auctions. NC Software/Kent Bishop, Wilmington, NC, for alleged distribution of counterfeit Windows 95 and 98 and Office Professional 97 via Web sites and Internet auctions. http://store.yahoo.com/ncsoftware/ Software Blowouts and Arthur Young, Hackettstown, NJ, for alleged distribution of counterfeit Office Pro 97 via various Web sites. http://wwwsoftwaremadness.com, http://www.nationalsoftware.com,http://www.bargainsoftware.com, http://www.softwareblowouts.com "Internet piracy is growing nearly as rapidly as the Internet itself, and it is severely harming confidence in feeling safe to conduct legitimate business online," said Tim Cranton, corporate attorney for Microsoft anti-Internet piracy. Related stories Novell takes pirate to task BSA breaks chatroom piracy ring Stealing Microsoft software is wrong -– but...