Almost exactly three years ago, we wrote about an effort by Microsoft to try to get various states to pass laws that would make it illegal to buy from a foreign company that uses unauthorized software. The goal was, basically, an incredibly cynical way for Microsoft to abuse overeager, grandstanding Attorneys General who want to pretend they‘re „helping local businesses“ by blocking every other company from doing business with whoever might be the best supplier… unless they suddenly became licensed Microsoft customers. There were all sorts of problems with that idea, but over the past three years, Microsoft has apparently continued to push forward with variations on that concept — and are now successfully getting states Attorneys‘ General (who have no authority over copyright issues) to shake down foreign companies with claims that they‘re „pirates.“