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Microsoft Dodges Class Action In WGA Lawsuit
An anonymous reader writes "A lawsuit that accused Microsoft of misleading consumers to download and install an update for Windows Genuine Advantage under the guise that it was critical security update will go forward, but not as a class action. A federal judge has refused to certify the lawsuit as a class action, which would have meant that anyone who owned a Windows XP PC in mid-2006 could join the case without having to hire an attorney. As Windows XP was easily the most popular operating system at the time, the ruling means Redmond has managed to avoid hundreds of millions in potential damages."
Do you sue for the purpose of getting rich
Seems like that happens a lot in America. Seriously, what's wrong with you people? Why do you have to sue so much?
It's a liberalism thing. Liberal politicians have spent decades telling people that it is someone else's fault whatever the problem is. It's the rich bankers/oil companies/insurance companies etc. that are the cause of all your problems, you have no responsibility for your life.
So naturally if my computer does something wrong it's Microsoft's fault and I should sue them...
They also take all of the risk, and do all of the work. If the suit is not successful, they lose. If they are successful, the participants get a token compensation, and - more importantly - the entity that was sued is punished, giving them an incentive to stop the behaviour that landed them in court in the first place.
Bashing lawyers is usually good for a couple of Insightful mods around here, but you might as well complain about those greedy medical doctors taking money for treating the sick, or - gasp - programmers or musicians or journalists wanting to be paid. If someone is willing to pay them for their services, why is that such a problem for you?
If you're so anti-lawyer, you can choose to not hire one and represent yourself in any litigation you participate in. And good luck with that, by the way.
I don't care why you're posting AC
WGA is only checked once every 90 days, and has no impact on system utilization or performance or startup. It is only validated when installing patches. You know nothing of this apparently.
YOU in fact don't need it, but would you prefer ACTUAL DRM in stead? I think not. It's a non-invasive system for validating vs a central system that your copy of Windows has not been installed more than the licensed number of times (and even if it has, a 5 minute phone call gets it activated anyway unless it really is a priated copy).
The first time you go to Microsoft update with an unvalidated copy, you download an ActiveX control that you run only once, this generates a unique license token based on several hardware metrics and your installed key, and a validation from a central server. After that, it is only referenced at logon to see that it exists (ond only after a cold boot), and anytime you try to install an update. THAT'S IT!
There is no contest in life for which the unprepared have the advantage.