Microsoft Uses WGA To Obtain Record Jail Sentences

theodp writes "According to Microsoft, 'No information is collected during the [Genuine Advantage Program] validation process that can be used to identify or contact a user.' That's little comfort to the software counterfeiters who were just handed jail sentences ranging from 1.5-6.5 years by the Futian People's Court in China, especially since Microsoft contends that much of the estimated $2B in bogus software was detected by its Windows Genuine Advantage program. 'Software piracy negatively impacts local economic growth,' explained Microsoft VP Fengming Liu in a celebratory New Year's Eve press release. But then again, so does transferring $16B of assets and $9B in annual profit to an Irish tax haven, doesn't it?"

Comments

Re:The moral of the story...

[gandhi_2]

No, you are right.

Some of us have massive social welfare programs, lifestyle subsidies, and wealth re-distributions to pay for.

You are under no obligation to arrange your affairs to MAXIMIZE your tax burden.