Microsoft has a piracy problem, and it's had it for some time. In 2006, the LA Times reported that software piracy had caused the company a loss of around $14 billion that year alone, despite the millions Microsoft spent trying to prevent the copying and distribution of its software and Windows operating system.
While losses like this would send most companies headfirst into a legal crusade, Microsoft has historically taken a more calculated approach to piracy. While publicly maintaining a zero-tolerance stance, Microsoft is aware of the potential benefits.
