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Redmond, WA - FBI agents stormed into the suburban Seattle residence
of former Microsoft Office mascot 'Clippy' today in an effort to
gather evidence against the suspects believed to be responsible for
the recent leak of the Windows Server 2003 licensing keys on the
Internet. Multiple computers and financial records were seized in
the clandestine raid.
 According
to the search warrant executed on Thursday, the FBI began its investigation
on April 7 when it was learned that key codes for installing Windows
Server 2003 were circulating on several popular public websites. "The
leak is believed to have originated from an unnamed Microsoft corporate
customer that subscribes to one of Microsoft's volume-licensing programs," said
Rodney Chesterfield, spokesperson for the FBI's Seattle office. "The
FBI believes that it is no small coincidence that Clippy was recently
hired into the janitorial staff of that company."
The computers seized are believed to hold several emails and Usenet
postings in which Clippy rails against his former employer and vows
revenge for his dismissal from the company back in April 2001. One
email, dated shortly after the leak was discovered, brazenly boasts
that "this time, little Davey finally got a chance to kick Goliath
right in the gonads."
Federal agents do not believe that Clippy worked alone, however,
and even suspect that the leak may be part of a larger plot to sell
Microsoft stock short. Wiretaps and SEC records show that Clippy
borrowed and then sold a large quantity of Microsoft stock shortly
after receiving a cryptic phone call which stated that "the
flightless Penguin soars majestically at midnight." Multiple
agencies are cooperating to attempt to identify Clippy's suspected
off-shore handler and accomplices, the majority of which are believed
to be based in Finland. More
Microsoft News
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