The software giant alleges unlicensed software is used at the hotel firm.
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) has filed a NIS 500,000 suit with the Tel Aviv District Court against Fattal Hotel Management and its owner and CEO David Fattal, alleging the hotel chain used pirate versions of its Windows operating system and Office software at its hotels. The company filed the suit under the auspices of the local branch of international anti-piracy trade group, Business Software Alliance (BSA).
BSA Israel's legal advisers, Adv. Naomi Assia and Osher Ben-Ezri claim that Fattal and its managers had "blatantly violated Microsoft's intellectual property rights, harmed its reputation and good name, and made unjust gains at its expense by copying and installing original software without proper licensing or authorization."
The suit was filed against Fattal Holdings, and other companies that form part of the Fattal hotel chain. The group owns four hotels and manages a further 35 in Israel and Europe. David Fattal was also named in the suit, as the sole shareholder in the holding company and the executive manager of the entire chain.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on November 20, 2007
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