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Microsoft Replaces Your Pirated Windows, For Free

Posted by samzenpus on from the confession-is-good-for-the-soul dept.

th3d0ct0r writes "ZDNet reports that Microsoft is now willing to replace your pirated version of Windows XP. As part of the recently started "Windows Genuine advantage" program, Alex Hilton explains that this incentive aims to bring out customers who bought PC's with Windows XP preinstalled from vendors that pirated the Microsoft OS. Not only do they offer amnesty to anyone coming forth with a pirated version, but also to ship an original version of their product with a valid license to replace the pirated one, each customer being able to get up to 5 such replacements. Hilton says: "Our goal is not to prosecute the individual, our goal is to get to the source".

4 of 574 comments (clear)

  1. This will be interesting .... by 3seas · · Score: 0, Troll

    .... considering the licensing pressure MS applied to some in the past regarding OS installation... re: DOJ vs. MS

  2. Does anyone else see this? by laughingcoyote · · Score: 1, Troll

    "Please admit to us that you are using pirated software, and just send us your name and mailing address. We will happily ship you a copy."

    Now, even presuming that they're not installing any overt spying stuff on the "real" CD they're sending you (which is possible, although they may not given the risk and bad PR if it's found out), do you really think they're just going to destroy this information as soon as they've got the package shipped?

    And what if John Q. Jackass has a vendetta against the store he bought his PC from? Easy enough to settle -that- score, go find a pirated copy, install, send the letter off to Microsoft, and make sure they know that store X sold me this PC with this! While on the surface it sounds like MS is just trying to be a nice, fuzzy and warm corporation, I just find that a little hard to believe.

    --
    To fight the war on terror, stop being afraid.
  3. Re:Yet another saavy PR move by M$ -- nothing more by JayTeeUK · · Score: 1, Troll
    ATT or the tobacco companies, which have leagues of lawyers manipulating the government

    Oh yeah, and of course, Microsoft would never do that.
    --
    James Tait, Programmer and Free Software Advocate
    JID: jayteeuk@wyrddreams.org
  4. Re:Moderating... by drDugan · · Score: 0, Troll

    I have lots of mod points -- I'd like to see:

    -2 Karma Whore

    with all the creativity of the sd crowd... oh wait.. forget it.