DailyTech - Microsoft Sues Resellers for Selling Pirated Software

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IT Microsoft Sues Resellers for Selling Pirated Software
Tuan Nguyen (Blog) - July 18, 2006 10:07 AM

22 comment(s) - last by SGTPan.. on Jul 19 at 3:33 AM

Piracy is not a business model Microsoft says

In an effort to crack down on software piracy, Microsoft this week filed 26 lawsuits against resellers, alleging that many of them sell pirated versions of Windows and other Microsoft software. Microsoft filed the suit across several states and said that it found unlicensed software on many computer systems.

Mary Jo Schrade, a senior attorney at Microsoft said that "our message should be made very clear by today's lawsuits. We are committed to finding the unscrupulous dealers of pirated software and making piracy a business model that doesn't work."

According to reports, Microsoft gathered evidence by purchasing computer systems from various resellers under a secret identity. Microsoft said that it then tests the systems for unlicensed software. Microsoft did not mention which resellers were part of its crackdown.

In recent anti-piracy news, Microsoft was forced to do a double take on its Windows Genuine Advantage program. After its last major release, so many users complained that WGA performed calls back to Microsoft servers without first informing users of its actions. Microsoft was then forced to issue a new version of WGA. Unfortunately, Microsoft ended up receiving lawsuits over WGA anyway.

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RE: This it to obtain revenue

By Wonga on 7/18/2006 1:50:56 PM , Rating: 3

Well gee, $250 for spending years developing an OS, then many many more years supporting it for someone who is going to use it every day for the next 5 years? Yeah, shame on Microsoft.

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RE: This it to obtain revenue

By masher2

(blog) on 7/18/2006 1:53:02 PM , Rating: 2

> "Well gee, $250 for spending years developing an OS"

$250? Most copies of Windows are sold OEM, at prices that go as low as $25/copy.

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RE: This it to obtain revenue

By Wonga on 7/18/2006 4:19:15 PM , Rating: 2

LOL, we that's even better then, for the consumer.

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RE: This it to obtain revenue

By rushfan2006 on 7/18/2006 4:35:44 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
$250? Most copies of Windows are sold OEM, at prices that go as low as $25/copy.

Two things...

1) And know that I'm seriously asking this as I build my own systems and would love to save some money....but where the heck do you buy "genuine" Microsoft Windows XP Pro for just $25, legally? I've never come across this -- ever. I was jumping up and down (not really but it sounds better) when I got it for below $100.

2) And as a general comment...$250....$25....heck I don't care if they are selling it for .25 cents....selling pirated stuff is not justifiable, no matter how expensive or cheap the rightful "owners" of the product in question is charging for it.

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RE: This it to obtain revenue

By rrsurfer1 on 7/18/2006 4:55:56 PM , Rating: 2

You would never get that kind of pricing ($25). That's if your a system builder and buying in HUGE volume.

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RE: This it to obtain revenue

By nangryo on 7/18/2006 11:20:30 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
$250? Most copies of Windows are sold OEM, at prices that go as low as $25/copy

Are you day dreaming?

I'm buying and oem version of win xp for 50pcs computer.
Then waht ? I can only get 125US$ for XP Pro oem or 70US$ for XP Home. Really if u can point me out where can I buy GENUINE WinXP on that price then I will gladly give u a BONUS.

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