Pirating Software? Choose Microsoft!

An anonymous reader writes "ArsTechnica is running a story regarding comments by Microsoft Business Group President Jeff Raikes, who had a pithy comment on the subject of software piracy. His view is that, should software piracy occur, Microsoft's desire is that the pirated software should be theirs. Potentially, in the future, they could then convert the illegal users from the 'dark side' into legit users who obtain licenses. 'We understand that in the long run the fundamental asset is the installed base of people who are using our products. What you hope to do over time is convert them to licensing the software.' Obviously Microsoft prefers the market to use their software even if it's pirated, rather than the alternative: the use of free software."

Comments

just to nitpick...

[Anonymous Coward]

Holy hyperlink Batman!

Re:The link

[hasmael]

Holy un-closed tags batman!

Re:The link

[tomstdenis]

Darn you!!! hehehehe I came here to say the same thing (right down to the batman paraphrase).

Re:The link

[antifoidulus]

alright, you convinced me, I'm tagging this "holyunclosedtagsbatman"

Re:is this how CS students make friends? :P

[NeilTheStupidHead]

Well, it is a crime to pirate software, so let's start calling the police. Most people call 911 when a crime is committed, right?

The 911 service is probably one of the most commonly mis-used emergency services (right after hospital emergeny rooms). Police departments always have non-emergency numbers that are used for, wait for it.... non-emergencies. You call 911 when someone breaks into your house or holds up a bank, not for noise complaints or cats stuck in trees, etc.