'Trading predator' Knight falls foul of Microsoft

By ADAM GIFFORD

Michael Knight, the man the New South Wales Department of Fair Trading dubbed the worst con man it had ever dealt with, has been found guilty of loading counterfeit Microsoft software onto computers.

Knight, aged 42, also known as Helsby-Knight, returned to Auckland last year after New South Wales banned him from doing business in the state again.

Trading as Matrix Computers, he started selling refurbished Australian computers.

Microsoft spokeswoman Vanessa Hutley said that between August and October multiple calls came into the Microsoft piracy hotline alleging Knight was hard disk loading - supplying computers with software already loaded and with no licences.

"We investigated and found he was hard disk loading and selling counterfeit copies of Windows 95," Ms Hutley said.

She said counterfeit software brought an added risk of viruses, and was ineligible for technical support, warranty protection and upgrades.

Microsoft began proceedings in the High Court at Auckland in February. Knight did not defend himself.

In a judgment just released, the court awarded Microsoft Corporation default judgment against Knight and Matrix Computers for copyright infringement.

Knight was ordered to pay costs, erase all unauthorised Microsoft programs on computers in his possession and deliver up any infringing copies of Microsoft programs, CDR drives and writers and any infringing manuals.

"Microsoft has every intention of pursuing the court order against Matrix and Michael Knight," Ms Hutley said. The level of costs is still to be determined.

Consumers Institute director David Russell said Knight had got his just deserts. "We are delighted the courts have listened to the evidence and come down firmly."

He said the institute's call for protection of consumers against "trading predators" had so far been ignored by politicians.

"He's banned for life in New South Wales. We would dearly love to see the man banned for life in NZ."

Knight ran a number of controversial businesses in Auckland in the early 1990s after arriving here having been made bankrupt in Australia.

Driving a Porsche with the licence plate YB POOR, he set up a business brokerage and a travel company which offered "free" transtasman flights.

He returned to Australia in 1994 and almost immediately ran foul of authorities there.