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Microsoft Will Pay If Its Bugs Damage Your Data

Posted by Zonk on from the microsoft's-two-cents dept.

RMX writes "CNet is reporting on a new Microsoft policy where they will pay if their software damages your data . There's a pretty low limit on what they will cover and "it also applies even if Microsoft knew or should have known about the possibility of the damages" but at least it's nice that they're specifying exactly to what length they'll go to cover their customers. Is this the "support" from proprietary vendors that corporations like so much?"

9 of 330 comments (clear)

  1. About time by Lisandro · · Score: 5, Funny

    I swear, if i had a buck for each time a Microsoft product damaged my dat...

    Oh... wait...

  2. Fine print... by LoverOfJoy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Please send in your request along with $4.99 for shipping/handling...

  3. Re:5 Bucks??? by ron_ivi · · Score: 5, Informative
    I don't think that corporations would care about this.

    Well. Then what is it they pay for?

    • Bug fixes? Not a chance - when I called Oracle or Microsoft about bugs / crashes in their databases the best answer I get is "Wait for our next release" and the worst answer I get is "ok, i've logged your report". When I ask the same to Postgresql's mailinglist, I get a patch the next day.
    • Risk of end of life software? Not a chance - when a commercial software vendor does poorly (HP) support for much of their software is killed, when a commmercial software vendor does well (peoplesoft) many of their product lines are killed. When a product is open source, regardless of if it does well (Ximian) or poorly (Blender) it's products survive.
    If it's not for this generous monitary guarantee, what is the appeal?
  4. linux admins may scoff by matthewg42 · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's easy for all you Linux admins who cost so much to scoff at 5 bucks, but for the average windows professional, it's a lot of money!

  5. Re:Anyone know WHY they are doing this? by Software · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Scam is a little harsh. They are doing this for the PR and FUD value, pure and simple. "Microsoft stands behind its products. We'll even pay you if we damage your data. Do you other vendors offer this?" Of course, this offer applies only to their spyware tool, but they'll still make the claim, and it will be true. Nobody will bother to make the claim (who wants to spend an hour filling out forms, etc. for $5 ?), and they'll use THAT as evidence of their software's reliability.

  6. It's not Microsoft products in general... by norminator · · Score: 5, Informative

    According to the AntiSpyware Beta end-user license agreement (EULA), Microsoft will reimburse direct damages up to $5 for problems associated with the new downloadable tool that wards off spyware, adware and any other "potentially unwanted software."

    They are talking only about the Beta for the MS Anti-Spyware. Everything in this /. post seems to make it look like it's MS software in general. Sorry, you only get money if the Anit-Spyware program screws up your stuff.

  7. Microsoft Will Pay If Its Bugs Damage Your Data by frovingslosh · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Rather than Microsoft Will Pay If Its Bugs Damage Your Data, the headline should have read Microsoft Says Your Data Is Only Worth $5 .

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  8. Seen it before in MS EULAs by DaveM753 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've seen that $5 liability limit before in other Microsoft EULAs. It's nothing new -- been there for years. I wonder why CNet is only now mentioning it???

  9. Re:Value of data by BandwidthHog · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can only pray that Monsanto doesn't prove you wrong some day.

    --

    Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?