Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Files a Copyright Infringement Lawsuit For Activating Pirated Software
First time accepted submitter Esra Erimez writes Microsoft has filed a complaint at a federal court in Washington accusing person(s) behind an AT&T subscription of activating various pirated copies of Windows 7 and Office 10. The account was identified by Microsoft's in-house cyberforensics team based on suspicious "activation patterns." Despite being one of the most pirated software vendors in the world, Microsoft doesn't have a long track record of cracking down on individual pirates. From the descriptions used in the complaint it seems likely that the target is not an average user, but someone who sells computers containing pirated software.
At any house brand computer store in China the computers come windows installed and activated but no disks. If you insist on an install disk the price for it is, amazingly, the same as buying windows retail. The whole activation system is fundamentally flawed, but the question is, how to make it 1) less of a pain for legit users and 2) harder for pirates? These two goals seem exclusive, alas.
Why? If you want to use Software that is not free, you're supposed to pay for it.
The only thing that really pisses me off is that when they think you had to reinstall your copy a few too many time you become a frequent participant on their Indian call-in show...
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
TorrentFreak is a news site, and one of the few that actually does journalism on copyright issues without a blatant bias. It is not a pro-piracy site, it does not host any pirated content. I'm not sure what the problem is, other than the word 'torrent' in the url?
Why not? Why should the creator not be able to impose any restrictions they damn please?
Largely because of the first-sale doctrine, which codifies property rights sanity: if you sell me something, it is now mine, not yours. I can do whatever I want with it. Use my spatula as a screwdriver? Use a thermos bottle for a hammer? Watch scenes in a movie out of order? It's none of your business. I bought it. It is now my property, and I'm free to do with it as I please.
(Averting pedantry: of course that doesn't involve violating copyright. Straw men will be ignored.)
Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?