In an effort to highlight piracy and counterfeiting, Microsoft made today Consumer Action Day. The company says it has taken 300 enforcement actions in the past few days to combat counterfeiting, including civil and criminal actions in 70 countries.

David Finn, associate general counsel for anti-piracy at Microsoft, said Microsoft received more than 150,000 complaints from consumers in the past two years, doubling complaints in the previous period. The most complaints came from China. The U.S. was the country that generated the next largest number of complaints.

"It appears that consumers are increasingly angry and frustrated that they unknowingly purchased counterfeit copies," Finn said, adding that most of them found out when they used an online validation tool. Some complained that using counterfeit software led to identity theft.

Microsoft has a site at www.howtotell.com.where you can report counterfeiters, and find out how to tell the difference between real and fake software. Finn said Microsoft was able to prosecute some counterfeiters thanks to evidence that consumers had given when they complained.

The enforcement action ranged from educational programs in Mexico to law-enforcment raids in China and a letter of appreciation to three police stations in Japan for work on earlier raids.