"..Software giant confirms an illegal copy of Windows 2001 build was posted to the Net. The hunt is on to determine how a pirated version of a forthcoming Microsoft Corp. operating system found its way onto the Internet earlier this week. Microsoft officials said it was too early to speculate on whether they will prosecute Whistler's pirates, if they can be located.

However, the company does have a project, the Internet Monitoring program, whereby it uses search-engine technology and a group of company staffers to monitor Web sites that are distributing its software illegally. Last January, for example, the company shut down 100 Web sites that were illegally distributing copies of Windows 2000, said Janice Block, a Microsoft corporate attorney. It does so by contacting those Web sites' Internet service providers, which generally close the sites within 48 hours. It also looks into prosecuting the proprietors of those sites, if they can be located.."