Extrapolating that for a whole year--assuming half a million takedown requests a month--that would be six million websites attempting to illegally distribute Microsoft operating systems or applications. And, those are just the ones that are identified. Who knows how many slip through the cracks or fly under the radar?

Windows is by far in use around the world, and the Microsoft Office suite has a virtual monopoly on the productivity software market. A good chunk of the Windows and Office software in use is pirated, though.

Microsoft has even had issues with unethical use of its software by paying customers. It recently available for TechNet subscribers to minimize the chances of piracy.

When it comes to piracy there always seems to be some segment of the population that justifies theft of content based on its cost or availability. For example, with movie piracy the rationale seems to be that if a studio would make a movie available online at a reasonable price people wouldn't need to download rogue pirated copies.

I assume the same argument could be made about Microsoft software. Purchasing an upgrade for Mac OS X only costs about $30, but the upgrade from one version of the to the next can cost up to $200 depending on which flavor of Windows you upgrade to. The Microsoft Office suite starts at $120 and pricing discount.