Microsoft Sued over Windows Genuine Advantage

[DELTETHISACCOUNT]

Ok... if this guy wins, Microsoft will just list the Windows Genuine Advantage in the EULA.

Big whoop.

[thetoaster3]

A computer user is suing Microsoft Corp. over the company's Windows Genuine Advantage anti-piracy tool, alleging that it violates laws against spyware. The suit by Los Angeles resident Brian Johnson, filed this week in U.S. District Court in Seattle, seeks class-action status for claims that Microsoft didn't adequately disclose details of the tool when it was delivered to PC users through the company's Automatic Update system.

Windows Genuine Advantage is designed to check the validity of a computer user's copy of the operating system. But the tool became a subject of heightened controversy earlier this month, after PC users began noticing that it was making daily contact with Microsoft's servers without their knowledge, even if their software was valid.

Full Article at Source

What a prat. "Microsoft effectively installed the WGA software on consumers' systems without providing consumers any opportunity to make an informed choice about that software," the suit alleges."

Erm, no it didn't. It's not on my system, because I chose not to install it.

[vcv]

What a prat. "Microsoft effectively installed the WGA software on consumers' systems without providing consumers any opportunity to make an informed choice about that software," the suit alleges."

Erm, no it didn't. It's not on my system, because I chose not to install it.

That made me wonder too.

If you do manual update then you gave to review the updates before installing them and have the choice of not installing any of them (including WGA update).

The guy has no case.

[L3thal Veteran]

A Microsoft spokesman, Jim Desler, called the suit "baseless" and disputed the characterization of the tool as spyware. "Spyware is deceptive software that is installed on a user's computer without the user's consent and has some malicious purpose," Desler said. Windows Genuine Advantage "is installed with the consent of the user and seeks only to notify the user if a proper license is not in place."

That is why this lawsuit will get nowhere :whistle:

[phantasmorph]

Doesn't it delete all of your restore points before it installs?

Actually, it deletes all your restore points that were created prior to its install, so the system cannot be rolled back and used in the event that the system doesn't pass validation...or it gets revoked, or whatever Microsoft deems is a valid reason to lock a person out of their system.

[nautiqueskier]

What I don't like about it (and I'm fully genuine) is the following (and I'm not saying this is grounds for a lawsuit)

1) They are changing the condition on which I originally bought Windows XP. So did WGA and thats what I hate. If WGA Notifications had shipped with Vista I would have no objection as I am accepting the inclusion of the software when I buy Vista. But Microsoft has changed the rules of the game half way through.

2) Do they really need to continuously check on the system. If they decide to disable it, why not just disable it through another update. And its not like someone running XP Pro Genuine is suddenly going to stop being genuine. The constant check is pretty unnecessary IMHO. And out of curiosity, what happens if someone is unplugged from the net for a few months.

3) Where does it end. If every other company catches on to the idea then a year from now my computer could be sending out hundreds of verification checks a day from the hundreds of apps I have installed.

4) They are using the fact that most people blindly install security updates to their advantage. I mean seriously, if they put in big red writing "Click Here to install an Application that will phone home every so often with whether you are genuine or not" then how many people would install it.

[Evolution]

Well didn't they just remove the call-back feature? If you didn't want the feature, all you had to do was choose not to install it instead of blindly letting XP install it for you...

How many people actually cared that XP called home for the brief time of it's existance, less than 0.01% of users?

[strekship]

WGA has never really bothered me. Its annoying, but not that bad. I don't store anything really personal on my computer, so there really isn't much on here to steal if WGA actually does send back personal stuff like SSN #'s (which i don't think it does).

[Gagsagger]

As it is now you purchase a copy of win xp, install it and change mb's or cpu's and suddenly find that you do not have a legal copy of windows... ms figures you have win xp installed on two computers...

sue the bastards.. where do i get my name on the list of the agrieved parties in this suit

:angry:

[Sheppard]

What a prat. "Microsoft effectively installed the WGA software on consumers' systems without providing consumers any opportunity to make an informed choice about that software," the suit alleges."

Erm, no it didn't. It's not on my system, because I chose not to install it.

Yes and if you choose not to install it then you cant get files, or updates from Microsoft. So basically they forced it down peoples throats, then turned on all the talkback and stuff and theres nothing anyone can do about it bar using another operating system which is a bit daft considering they bought windows.

[Julius Caro]

That is why this lawsuit will get nowhere :whistle:

That depends. If you installed it through windows update page, yes, you know what you are installing. Sometimes, you even have to agree EULAs in order for things to install. The case here is, that the user can claim WGA was installed posing as a critical security update, or something like that. Add the fact that microsoft was late to tell people that WGA called home. There are strong arguments against microsoft.

What irritates me the most is not WGA, which is not a problem to me in my computers. It's the fact that there are already work arounds and it is completely useless. If they were considering de-activating non legit installs, well, that would be fine... or, if WGA is some sort of "Let's see how many legit copies are there", that's fine too. But I really don't now what they're up to with it.

[n30w1n]

As it is now you purchase a copy of win xp, install it and change mb's or cpu's and suddenly find that you do not have a legal copy of windows... ms figures you have win xp installed on two computers...

sue the bastards.. where do i get my name on the list of the agrieved parties in this suit

:angry:

You are clearly and obviously a software pirate who heard some total BS about how Windows XP erases everything on your hard drive and blows up your computer and opens up a portal to the Matrix every time you change a keyboard or mouse. For future reference, you should know that Windows does NOT do that, and in fact, you do not even have to call Microsoft.

Even if you try to activate the same copy of Windows on a different machine, it WILL work. It will work time and time unless you activate it so many times that it becomes flagged as a potentially pirated product key. So kindly shut up, because as someone who has never even bought a copy of Windows, you have the LEAST right to even complain about Microsoft's practice, let alone mouth off about how you are going to sue them.

[Brian M. Veteran]

You are clearly and obviously a software pirate who heard some total BS about how Windows XP erases everything on your hard drive and blows up your computer and opens up a portal to the Matrix every time you change a keyboard or mouse. For future reference, you should know that Windows does NOT do that, and in fact, you do not even have to call Microsoft.

Even if you try to activate the same copy of Windows on a different machine, it WILL work. It will work time and time unless you activate it so many times that it becomes flagged as a potentially pirated product key. So kindly shut up, because as someone who has never even bought a copy of Windows, you have the LEAST right to even complain about Microsoft's practice, let alone mouth off about how you are going to sue them.

And its assumptions like that which get the flaming going - he has an opinion too, just like you...

Anyway, the problem with this is where my copy of XP which is LEGALLY licensed (I bought an OEM copy for each and every one of my machines - and i found that my Dell laptop was an extra ?89 with xp, and i could get it seperatly for ?5:):) ), and one of those is constantly being flagged as pirated.

Ive called Microsoft up with the problem several times now, and each time an update to WGA is released, my computer goes back to "Nope, we wont let you do that, or we will shove an annoying screen in your face, because we think your software is not legal". With this new thing, i tried to say "no" to it, but it wouldnt let me have other updates until i installed it, and as soon as it was installed, the machine was flagged as illegal, phones microsoft, it was rectified, but hey, the next day my computer was back to being illegal again. Since then, Microsoft have issued me with a new product key for that machine, and so far, so good - its stayed as legal.

The other problem is the way in which it was done. If you purchased XP, then you have the right to be informed whats happenning. Its perfectly OK for it to call back, and this WAS in the original EULA (because of activation), and is fine, but is there really a need to do it daily? I mean, who is going to install a legal version, and then change to an illegal version the next day?

[n30w1n]

And its assumptions like that which get the flaming going - he has an opinion too, just like you...

Anyway, the problem with this is where my copy of XP which is LEGALLY licensed (I bought an OEM copy for each and every one of my machines - and i found that my Dell laptop was an extra ?89 with xp, and i could get it seperatly for ?5:):) ), and one of those is constantly being flagged as pirated.

Ive called Microsoft up with the problem several times now, and each time an update to WGA is released, my computer goes back to "Nope, we wont let you do that, or we will shove an annoying screen in your face, because we think your software is not legal". With this new thing, i tried to say "no" to it, but it wouldnt let me have other updates until i installed it, and as soon as it was installed, the machine was flagged as illegal, phones microsoft, it was rectified, but hey, the next day my computer was back to being illegal again. Since then, Microsoft have issued me with a new product key for that machine, and so far, so good - its stayed as legal.

The other problem is the way in which it was done. If you purchased XP, then you have the right to be informed whats happenning. Its perfectly OK for it to call back, and this WAS in the original EULA (because of activation), and is fine, but is there really a need to do it daily? I mean, who is going to install a legal version, and then change to an illegal version the next day?

I am not fighting for WGA, I am simply fighting against stupid comments. My notebook has never seen anything but the completely licensed IBM installation of Windows, and I find WGA just as useless as anyone else. But I don't register to forums to make BS comments about the world of Windows XP ending when you change a motherboard, or asking where I sign up to sue Microsoft. And believe me that those kind of comments **** me off far more than WGA's unnecessary validation frequency.

[NotChetHanks]

The only software on my computer thats genuine IS Windows. And I got that for free... :shiftyninja:

[Nathanael]

Without the assistance of google or other sources, provide an intrinsicly detailed desription of each and every one of these processes.

Then a detailed description of each and every dll in your system32 folder.

Good luck.

:rolleyes:

I'll be glad if it's removed. It's a PITA when using MSDN keys. Activates properly and then WGA doesn't work with fully valid keys sometimes. <_<

Edited June 30, 2006 by Nathanael

[0sit0]

the same thing happened when Microsoft came out with WPA right? everyone was mad etc... I personally dont like it, but im guessing you can always block it through a firewall etc. But im glad my copy is legit anyway :) MSDN rules hehe!

[Joel]

Actually, it deletes all your restore points that were created prior to its install, so the system cannot be rolled back and used in the event that the system doesn't pass validation...or it gets revoked, or whatever Microsoft deems is a valid reason to lock a person out of their system.

Really? I know of 3 PCs that were successfully rolled back to a restore point. Is this only in the new-and-improved version of the WGA tool?

[CaKeY]

The only software on my computer thats genuine IS Windows. And I got that for free... :shiftyninja:

Did your mom buy it for you?

[Inplode]

LOL i cant say im shocked somehow i knew someone would file a law suit !

is it true that if you DONT install it that you will nto beable to get new updates ?

but cant you just download them from another site ?

Edited June 30, 2006 by Inplode

[gertin]

Can ask I why so many people are fretting over this.... If you have a legal copy of Windows, then why worry so much ?

All it's checking is whether Windows a legal or not.....

Ok, fair enough, MS may have done this on the sly, but why worry so much ?

It's not searching your HD for illegal content !

How do you know when they're not disclosing what the tool does? (Like calling home)

[The Scarecrow]

I have a legal copy of xp too and tbh i dont care that it calls home, doesnt do me any harm... its not like searching for my personal information

That you know of. :)

[Frank]

Anyway, the problem with this is where my copy of XP which is LEGALLY licensed (I bought an OEM copy for each and every one of my machines - and i found that my Dell laptop was an extra ?89 with xp, and i could get it seperatly for ?5:):) ), and one of those is constantly being flagged as pirated

Where did you buy the OEM licenses from? Did you buy and install a piece of hardware with each OEM license?

You probably (again I am ASSuming) bought it from a shady store that didn't exactly follow the procedures when selling a OEM product. If you did not buy it or did not install the hardware that came with the OEM license, technically it is a pirated copy.

[dagamer34]

Umm.. OEM is strictly tied to one mobo. That's part of the EULA. If you wanna transfer your lisence, go buy retail like you're SUPPOSED to do!

[Robbie Khan Reviews]