A Connecticut man was yesterday arrested and charged with selling the source code used by Microsoft's Windows NT 4 and Windows 2000 operating systems. William P. Genovese, Jr., 27, faces charges (http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=6762266&section=news) of "unlawfully distributing a trade secret", an offence punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Investigators hired by Microsoft and an undercover FBI agent were both able to download Microsoft's secret software blueprint from a site run by Genovese after making a payment of $20 via PayPal to the accused, prosecutors allege. Genovese is not under suspicion for originally stealing the source code, only for handling "stolen goods", the New York Times reports (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/10/technology/10soft.html). ®

Related stories

MS Windows source code escapes onto Internet (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/02/13/ms_windows_source_code_escapes/)
MS partner fingered in Windows code leak, Linux box implicated (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/02/13/ms_partner_fingered_in_windows/)
Windows leak dangers exaggerated (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/03/01/windows_leak_dangers_exaggerated/)
UK police arrest Cisco source code suspect (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/20/cisco_source_code_arrest/)