Microsoft increases their quarterly revenues by cracking down on pirated copies of Windows and forcing users to pay for legitimate copies.

From the Seattle Post Intelligencer:

Microsoft’s recent jump in Windows sales can be traced in part to a basic concept — getting more people who use its programs to pay for them.

The company says efforts to curb software piracy have added to its revenue in each of its last two quarters, helping it exceed Wall Street’s expectations. One analyst says the trend may add a cumulative total of more than $1 billion to Microsoft’s PC Windows revenue over five years.

Computerworld is reporting that Microsoft gained $77 million by getting pirated uers to pay for licensed copies in the last business quarter.

Pirated Software is a $39.5 billion industry.