Microsoft Files Suits Against 8 Companies

Microsoft Corp. has sued eight companies that allegedly distributed counterfeit copies of some of its software, the company said.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft claimed two of the companies were in violation of earlier settlements. Copies of Windows XP Professional, Office XP Professional and Office 2000 were among the phony products Microsoft said were distributed.

Among the companies named in the eight separate lawsuits is South El Monte-based Winvtech Solutions Inc.

“We are totally surprised and had no idea there was a problem,” said Vice President Ian Linares. He said that the company had been notified by Microsoft of alleged problems in the past and that Winvtech had worked with Microsoft to correct that situation to the software maker’s satisfaction, which involved changing the wholesaler.