Posted on 10/31/2006 8:46:06 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
Microsoft has begun wielding the law hammer against dealers it believes have been selling counterfeit software via eBay and other auction websites. Today, the company announced legal actions—both civil and criminal—against 55 resellers of Microsoft software in 11 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, the UK, and the US.
The software giant tracked down the dealers via the Windows Genuine Advantage program, using "tips submitted from consumers." Those who bought counterfeit software that subsequently failed to be validated via WGA were asked by Microsoft where they purchased the software after they contacted the company about their software's failure to validate.
WGA has been a controversial tool for Microsoft, with some Windows users becoming upset once they learned about the antipiracy tools' propensity to "phone home" on a regular basis. The company characterized the behavior as a safety measure designed to ensure the application didn't malfunction, but changes were subsequently made so that WGA now checks in every 90 days or so instead of daily.
About one in every five PCs with WGA installed fails the validation test, according to Microsoft. For those that fail, a stolen volume licensing key is the culprit about 80 percent of the time. In many cases, such keys are used by those selling counterfeit software to ensure that Windows would install.
Microsoft says that it contacted many of the sellers to warn them about selling counterfeit software prior to beginning legal action. Those who are now facing civil and/or criminal actions ignored cease-and-desist orders from the Redmond, WA-based company and continued to post auctions for counterfeit software even after having other, similar auctions removed by eBay and other auction sites.
GE, do you or Mr. Lyons have any derogatory comments on Microsoft enforcing their copyrights against those who distribute copyrighted works without a license?
I recently bought a 32bit version of XP Pro w/SP2 on the CD via the net for $69....before I even put it the hard drive I called MS and asked them....after reading the product key to him it was proclaimed legit, and it validated w/no prob after being formatted. Lucky me, I guess. The "phone" home feature is alive and well in this version, I assure you. Having read the above, I guess I'll "register" it, too, and maybe that will cut it down to once every 90 days as stated above.
So, I guess the next step is a countermeasure that will disable the "phone home" feature, right? Invent a stronger lock and thieves will invent a better lock-pick!
ping
I think doing a check when a user requests patches is one thing, but doing the phone home thing, imho, is going overboard. Still, it is their product and if you want it, you play by their rules I guess.
I have not worked with a Mac lately, but I have seen the latest ubuntu linux and that product is just about ready to give Microsoft a run for its money. As far as getting it up and running with access to the internet and an office like suite, it looks great. I think even easier to install than windows, at least on my hardware. Now if you are a gamer, then Microsoft still owns that, imho.
I meant allowing mine to "phone home" would be modified by MS if I register it online or go to the update page, if I read the above right. I'll tell you, I get all sorts of popup MS windows coaxing me to go to their site for one reason or another. Now that I know (or at least THINK) doing so will reduce the interval to 90 days.....
My copy is entirely legit.
This is not about piracy, it's about locking down users and squeezing out any scintilla of freedom over the products you've legitimately purchased. End-to-end Microsoft will make itself the gateway to anything you want to hear, see, edit whether you created the content or not.
Determined pirates will always be able to circumvent Microsoft's lock down efforts. It's only the legitimate who have anything to fear.
Thank you for sharing that link...
That's a different subject, abusing users with draconian, probably unenforceable, license restrictions.
This is about companies distributing another's copyrighted works for profit, and screwing the end consumers in the process.
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