Software giant Microsoft has been fined for performinglegal shenanigans in India. A Delhi High Court has told Redmond to shell out $16,000for choosing to fight four copyright violation cases in the Indian capital.

The court took a dim view of what it saw as Microsoft'smoves to try and force a settlement or a victory on four defendants by makingthem travel all the way to Delhi for a hearing. The alleged violations occurred in Bangalore, Hyderabad,Chandigarh and Mumbai. Microsoft claimed that it wanted to fight the case inDelhi because it had an office there, however Redmond also has offices inBangalore, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Mumbai.

The defendants complained that Microsoft was using"money power" to "harass" the defendants. It is more likely that Microsoft probably wanted thecases fought in the Delhi High Court because it had the power to order highercompensation, but Indian law does not work like that.

Justice SN Dhingra said: "When the constitution ofIndia provides equality before law, this equality has to be all pervasive andcannot be allowed to be diluted because of money power or lobbying power.

He said that an outfit cannot be allowed to choose acourt of his liking because of his money power. There should be one definitecourt where the suit can be filed by everybody and one cannot hire the servicesof the court of his choice. The four companies are charged with violation ofcopyright on grounds of suspicion that they were using pirated software.

The court will hear the matter further on Jan 18 nextyear. However the case is not going that well for Microsoft. The court nowofficially thinks that its actions are “a harassment of the opposite party”.