Microsoft is ramping up its fight against counterfeit software, this time targeting people alleged to have sold pirated versions of its programs on online marketplaces. The company said late yesterday that it has filed lawsuits against 52 alleged resellers of counterfeit software and referred 22 piracy cases to law enforcement agencies in more than 20 countries. Here's an example of one of the lawsuits the company filed in the U.S.: PDF, 51 pages. Microsoft said 15 of the lawsuits involve software traced to what was believed to be the largest-ever counterfeit software syndicate, which was broken up this year by Microsoft and law-enforcement officials from the U.S. and China.
View: Full Story @ Seattle PI
View: Full Story @ Seattle PI
Agreed. I've seen it before tho, when I did co-op at a computer store, and customers would bring in their computers from other stores and we found out they were pirated. Stupid.
Anyone who makes money off pirated stuff deserves to be shut down.
I kinda unknowingly helped them rat out another local business that pre-installed Counterfeit copies of Microsoft Office on their machines. I just happened to mention how cheap they were, they bought one of their machines to see what the deal was, and confirmed it was counterfeit and now their website is suspended. Im assuming that business is gone now.
Or just buy your copies nice and legal-like.
This article isn't just about Windows, it accounts for other software too.
First there was the notorious VLK version that didn't require activation. Then there was WGA (which was easily craked/bypassed/disabled/etc.), and then Microsoft went and gave us a "Student" key that works on any installation of XP and fools WGA into thinking that the copy is legit (regardless if it is or not.) And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There's hundred of ways to get around activation and WGA.
But you just keep thinking that Pirated copies of Windows are somehow less secure. Because that's what Microsoft wants you to believe. Now look sad and say douh.
First there was the notorious VLK version that didn't require activation. Then there was WGA (which was easily craked/bypassed/disabled/etc.), and then Microsoft went and gave us a "Student" key that works on any installation of XP and fools WGA into thinking that the copy is legit (regardless if it is or not.) And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There's hundred of ways to get around activation and WGA.
But you just keep thinking that Pirated copies of Windows are somehow less secure. Because that's what Microsoft wants you to believe. Now look sad and say douh.
I said copies that can't, not all pirated copies can not be. I was not just talking about clients either + that is the current infection trends are showing.
Tackling piracy does.
The problems to install a ilegal copy of windows is not just a ethical/legal problem but customers think that installing windows also means free support, if the printers don't work or if internet dont work then they will blame you. The funny part is buying a legal copy don't grant any support, there are more support from a friends installing a "copy" of windows that buying a windows box from a store.
Microsoft offers a good range of support options for legal customers.
You are thinking of OEM versions which Microsoft does not provide support for. The reason is because OEM editions are intended to be installed by computer manufacturers. Microsoft gives them a price break but also relies on the manufacturer to support their own machine (including Windows).
The problem of consumers thinking Microsoft will support their pirated copies of Windows is one reason why they developed WGA. People need to understand the consequences of illegal software. And to be fair, Microsoft offered innocent victims of counterfeit software a genuine upgrade if they shared information about where the illegal software came from.
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