Vista's EULA Product Activation Worries

applejax writes "SecurityFocus is running an article regarding some concerns about Vista's activation terms. Do you have the right to use properly purchased but not validated software? What happens if Microsoft deactivates your OS that was legally purchased? The article goes into some detail about Vista's validation and concerns." From the article: "The terms of the Vista EULA, like the current EULA related to the 'Windows Genuine Advantage,' allows Microsoft to unilaterally decide that you have breached the terms of the agreement, and they can essentially disable the software, and possibly deny you access to critical files on your computer without benefit of proof, hearing, testimony or judicial intervention. In fact, if Microsoft is wrong, and your software is, in fact, properly licensed, you probably will be forced to buy a license to another copy of the operating system from Microsoft just to be able to get access to your files, and then you can sue Microsoft for the original license fee."

Comments

So, fellow froggies

[hey!]

is this water getting toasty, or what?

computer crash?

[Anonymous Coward]

I guess "Microsoft deactivated my Windows license last night, I couldn't finish my paper." will become a common and valid excuse.

Re:computer crash?

[dangitman]

And it was a really good paper.

Re:Windows Vista?

[wolfgang_spangler]

Ballmer can bite me.

I believe he would rather squirt you a picture of his kids.

Re:Yet another WINDOWS GENUINE DISADVANTAGE

[paniq]

You mean the Penguin Advantage?

Re:Yet another WINDOWS GENUINE DISADVANTAGE

[Mateo_LeFou]

http://btetc.blogspot.com/2006/10/windows-penguine -advantage.html

Re:because it doesn't

[Reaperducer]

With OS X's DRM, I'm locked into Apple hardware.

I'm with you, brotha. I legally purchased Leopard almost a year ago, and I'm STILL unable to install it on my Commodore 64. Apple says it's not supported hardware!

When will these multi-national corporations understand that I have the freedom and right to use the software on any machine I see fit? Greedy short-sighted companies like Apple don't understand that they'd made a TON of money if only people could use OS X on a GameCube or a PSP or a toaster. Think about how many toasters there are in the world! There's a HUGE potential market for OS X unbundled from Apple hardware!

Lock-in sucks, and I won't support any computer company that doesn't put forth the money, time, and effort to make their software run on every possible combination of electronics hardware in the world.

They're stifling my constitutional freedom of liberty!