Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Sued Over WGA
Hope Thelps writes "The Seattle PI is reporting on a lawsuit being brought against Microsoft in response to their WGA spyware. Groklaw is also covering the story. Although there are a lot of similarities to Sony's rootkit, the actual harm done is less concrete. It'll be interesting to see how this turns out."
I told Windows to download and not install updates, this one installed itself. On another machine I had notify only, and it downloaded and installed this one as well, even rebooted without my approval. It was not a typical update.
17 usc 117 provides you with all the legal right you need to make all copies needed to actually *use* the application...you don't need a license from microsoft to "copy" windows to run it.
i'm not a lawyer, but i can read.
(a) Making of Additional Copy or Adaptation by Owner of Copy.-- Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or authorize the making of another copy or adaptation of that computer program provided: (1) that such a new copy or adaptation is created as an essential step in the utilization of the computer program in conjunction with a machine and that it is used in no other manner, or (2) that such new copy or adaptation is for archival purposes only and that all archival copies are destroyed in the event that continued possession of the computer program should cease to be rightful.
"Evil will always triumph because good is dumb." -- Dark Helmet
I've got my machine set to notify only, and it never installed it. I told it not to install it, and it asked if it wanted me to not be shown the update again. I said yes, and it stopped showing it. It only comes back in the update list if there's a new version of WGA - or at least every time it's reappeared, it happened to coincide with a Slashdot story saying MS changed something about WGA.
Call BS on this one.
I would have seen that behavior on one of hundreds of PCs. I have not.
You're either posting for FUD, or your machine isnt' configured how you think it is.
Or the problem is between the keyboard and the chair.
-Malakai
A Dragon Lives in my Garage
Just thought that you guys might wanna know that Microsoft has came up with an article on removing WGA.
w00t
You forgot the part right after where it sends the key number where it sends a list of applications loaded on your system and your hardware configuration.
http://www.firewallleaktester.com/removewga.htm
I CANNOT vouch for the legitimacy of that utility (so scan it first, try it on a staging machine, etc., YMMV, Batteries not included, and all that jazz). I just did a quick search for utilities for removing WGA, but being a Linux user I don't have much use for it myself. There are reviews of it on legitimate sites (for example, PC World) but then they've also unknowingly recommended scumware in the past as well.
The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
I use the same proceedure to install but I have a corporate copy that does not even ask for a key. I also have the file that disables WGA, you should be able to get it over the internet so do not change your policy just because the bully boy says so. The file is called twk-winupdatepatch.exe.
I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
It has been eons since I read the EULA, but it basically says that MS owns the systems. That means that they can do whatever they want. OTH, sony or any 3rd party who does not have explicit permission from MS can then be sued. Oddly enough, if MS and Sony had not been fighting over playstation/xbox, MS probably would have given permission.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
Now, a few years down the road WGA is going to force me to reinstall--now that I have many important business apps installed.
You don't have to if you have a legal copy. You can always change the product key of an installed instance of XP using the registry and msoobe.exe. More info here: http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-1035_11-5034890.h tml
You don't need a license to copy windows for archival purposes, but you do need a licence to run it, since you don't actually own the program (you own the licence to use the program, which almost always comes with a copy of the program).
Computers allow humans to make mistakes at the fastest speeds known, with the possible exception of tequila and handguns
Let's see... I just ran Microsoft Update, then I clicked "Custom". It tells me:
No mention of WGA. So I click "Details" and lo and behold, it's the WGA Validation Tool that I must install. My only option is "Download and Install Now". There is no skip, ignore, anything. So as far as I can tell, in order to continue receiving updates, I must install this spyware. I don't feel that that qualifies as an "optional" install.
You might find this press release from a couple days ago kind of interesting.
j un06/06-27WGA.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/
It discusses the history of WGA, the licensing, the server-side communication, etc, as well as what they changed in the update that was released on the 27th.
You're granted the license to use the program. You don't own the license. The license may be removed by the copyright owner if you violate the EULA, which is akin to land in a fiefdom that can be removed if you cross the rules of the owning lord.
You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
Hmmm.... I have no pitty for people who use MS software. You've chosen to use that software. You've insisted on it. There are pleanty of open source altrenatives at your fingertips now. So I don't think microsoft should be sued over this. Its their choice as to what they put in their software. If you don't like the updates that microsoft decides to put in their software you have choices. Those choices are turn off windows updates, switch to linux, or buy a Mac. I'm sick of people whining about what microsoft does. Really if you don't like the software don't use it. You'll probably save yourself allot of agrivation and money by doing so. Linux has come a long way. Its not the hard to use OS it once was. In fact its easier to use then ever. It just takes getting use to. But in the end it will do everything windows will do.
Hey you know what? His opinion is valid. If he feels personally wronged by Microsoft, he is perfectly justified in wanting Microsoft to get slapped. If he feels there is overwhelming evidence that Microsoft has wronged others, he is perfectly justified in wanting Microsoft to get slapped.
His stated opinion was not about frustration with MS -- it was about frustration with this particular action by MS.
"Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai