SINGAPORE: Police have seized more than 300 high-end counterfeit copies of Microsoft software worth about S$65,000 from three retail outlets in Sim Lim Square. The software included Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista.

The counterfeit copies were identical to the originals, making it almost impossible to tell the difference.

More than 50 copies of infringing ‘Certificates of Authority’ (COA), which were not attached to the software, were also seized.

A COA is a label issued by the manufacturer to help the user determine whether the software is genuine. The COA should not be sold independently of the software.

The products are believed to have been imported from China.

The latest raids, which were initiated by Microsoft after 11 months of investigations, were carried out by the police on Thursday.

Microsoft had received complaints from consumers about their products which were not working properly. So the company conducted surveys and found that some dealers had been selling Microsoft products at a 10 per cent discount.

Users can log on to www.howtotell.com to find out if their Microsoft software is genuine. Microsoft has also come up with a new sticker.

Jonathan Selvasegaram, Corporate Attorney, Microsoft SE Asia, said: "We have introduced an orange sticker which says 'Genuine Microsoft Software' and that will be a quick indication, assuming customers are looking out for software.

"The sticker will be on the packaging. Customers can also go to our Microsoft website to validate their software." - CNA/vm