Posted on 10/04/2006 11:35:01 AM PDT by ShadowAce
SEATTLE (AP) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)'s forthcoming Windows Vista will take much harsher steps to curtail piracy than previous versions of its operating system, including crippling the usefulness of computers found to be running unlicensed copies of the new software.
The world's largest software maker said Wednesday that people running a version of Windows Vista that it believes is pirated will initially be denied access to some of the most anticipated Vista features. That includes Windows Aero, an improved graphics technology.
If a legitimate copy is not bought within 30 days, the system will curtail functionality much further by restricting users to just the Web browser for an hour at a time, said Thomas Lindeman, Microsoft senior product manager.
Under that scenario, a person could use the browser to surf the Web, access documents on the hard drive or log onto Web-based e-mail. But the user would not be able to directly open documents from the computer desktop or run other programs such as Outlook e-mail software, Lindeman said.
Microsoft said it won't stop a computer running pirated Vista software from working completely, and it will continue to deliver critical security updates.
The company also said it has added more sophisticated technology for monitoring whether a system is pirated. For example, the system will be able to perform some piracy checks internally, without contacting Microsoft, Lindeman said.
Microsoft also is adding ways to more closely monitor for piracy among big corporate users, who tend to buy licenses in bulk.
Microsoft plans to take similar tough measures with the forthcoming version of its Windows server software, dubbed "Longhorn," and to incorporate it into other products down the road.
The crackdown shows how much more seriously Microsoft has started taking Windows piracy, which for years has been extremely widespread in areas such as Russia and China. The Business Software Alliance, a software industry group, estimates that 35 percent of software installed on PCs worldwide is pirated.
In recent years, the market for Windows - one of Microsoft's main cash cows - has become more saturated. That's left the company eager to make money from users who may otherwise have obtained illegal Windows copies.
Microsoft has already instituted tougher piracy checks for Windows XP users who want to get free add-ons such as anti-spyware programs. But until now, the warnings and punitive measures were mainly seen as annoying, rather than debilitating.
Cori Hartje, director of Microsoft's Genuine Software Initiative, said the company now wants users to notice the difference between legal and pirated copies of Vista.
"Our goal is to really make a differentiated experience for genuine and non-genuine users," Hartje said.
Analyst Roger Kay with Endpoint Technologies Associates noted that Microsoft has the right to curtail illegal distribution of its software. The new piracy measures, he said, "seem harsh only in comparison to how lenient it has been."
Nevertheless, Kay said he expects that the anti-piracy tactics will keep some people from upgrading to Vista from the current operating system, Windows XP.
"There will be an XP backlash, which is to say people (will) cling to XP in order to avoid this," he said.
Kay also doesn't expect the new piracy measures to be that effective against hardcore pirates, who have built de facto businesses selling illegal Windows copies. But he thinks it will stop some lower-level piracy.
After many delays, Redmond-based Microsoft is expected to release Vista to businesses in November and consumers in January.
That's a big reason to like Linux. If you don't like one distro, there's probably another one out there that does work for you.
I'm not a pirate, but MS's trend of making their products more of a pain in the a$$ to use and/or upgrade is pushing me toward Apple and/or Linux.
Flash 7 works beautifully with linux and I wish everyone would use the standard but thats not the case.. :(
like chicagobears.com or commedycentral.com etc..
Bookmark
I'm sorry, but "Talk Like a Pirate Day" was a couple of weeks ago.
"Advice to Microsoft:"
That was good advice, IMO.
It seems anti-piracy equals security holes.
The "revolution" in vista is the effort to have the OS be self policing on piracy without contacting MS HQ.
This way there are no "leaks"
The real fact is that MS is pushing more and more to the montly utility style of billing for the low end consumer.
We need a realistic solution for the "low end" consumer who just wants to open the box and go. MS knows they have the 99.9% of the market that is this low end consumer.
Instead of Bill Gates, you're signing on with Bill Clinton?
Ditto that, and this has nothing to do with what Bill Clinton said. he probably doesn't know what Linux is.
Cool. Pissed off customers will create a market for another operating system.
I can be, and you'd never know the difference! But you're right, it's not my basic inclination.
MS doesn't have to worry about me pirating a copy--I'm going Linux the next time I get a new computer.
Likewise. I'm doing Kubuntu, actually. It's made by communists, I s'pose, but it's free and great.
Ubuntu for the win!
Oooh, they're going to stop releasing security updates for 2000 soon, or so I've heard.
We'll hang the last communist with the rope he gave us for free. ;)
Why not just put up a big nag screen that can't be closed that states, "Microsoft believes your copy of the Vista Operating System is not genuine. Please call 1-800-microsoft for further information and assistance."
I will cling to XP and eschew Vista because I paid a lot for 3 XP Licenses and I like XP.
If MS wants to transfer those licenses to Vista, I might try it. Other than that I'm not shelling out a dime just because they say it's time for a change.
I'm sure there are a lot of Win98se users out there who feel the same way.
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