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Microsoft Marketing to OS Pirates, Just Agree to Audits!

Stony Stevenson writes "In the latest sign that Microsoft expects to support its Windows XP operating system for the foreseeable future, the company has introduced a new licensing program designed to let users of fake or pirated copies of the business version of the OS upgrade to fully licensed copies. To qualify, users of illegitimate versions of Windows XP Pro must pledge to use only genuine Microsoft software going forward and agree to have their software infrastructure audited. Resellers who push the Get Genuine Windows Agreement to customers will get a cut of any new license fees they generate, Microsoft said."

3 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Actually by El+Lobo · · Score: 3, Informative

    Critical updates are not locked out even for pirated copies, so don't worry, it's not about that, they take responsability even for pirated copies.

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    It's time to realise that Abble's products are the biggest abomination these days. Just say NO to the dumb iAbble way!!
  2. Re:Actually by InvisblePinkUnicorn · · Score: 2, Informative

    Please note: the adjective form of "civilization" is not "civilizated".

  3. Re:Yeah, right by sqrt(2) · · Score: 3, Informative

    What world do you live in? The "unpatched and unsupportable" pirate copies of XP are, in fact, bit-for-bit identical to the legit retail and corporate versions. They update just like the real thing, they work just like the real thing, they ARE the real thing. Everything except for the license/CD key is genuine. The difference between a "pirate" copy and a real one is your authorization to use it, the license, not the software itself.

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    If you build it, nerds will come. Soylentnews.org