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Windows 7 Will Annoy Pirates Even Less Than Vista
Chinese File Lawsuits Over Msoft's Piracy Crack Down
Microsoft Cracking Down On Pirated Software in China, Probably Starting WWIII
Microsoft Upgrades Its Nagware For Windows XP
Apple Patent Copies Windows Genuine Advantage DRM: Will It Be Just as Annoying?

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Dragzonox
05/07/09

In reply to Windows 7 Will Annoy Pirates Even Less Than Vista
I have always wondered when the time would come when Microsoft said "yeah we have enough money now".
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ripfire
05/07/09

@Dragzonox: Tell that to the shareholders.
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Nick
05/07/09

In reply to Windows 7 Will Annoy Pirates Even Less Than Vista
when i did my install i skipped puttin in the key and activation. i actually had to do a search when i was ready to put in the key and activate my copy.
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SuperTuna
05/07/09

In reply to Windows 7 Will Annoy Pirates Even Less Than Vista
Wait - Windows Activation Technologies = WAT?

WAT indeed, WAT indeed.
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ripfire
05/07/09

@SuperTuna: Actually, the activation is more based on the version license you purchase so it would be more like Tiered Windows Activation Technologies.
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MJDeviant
05/07/09

In reply to Windows 7 Will Annoy Pirates Even Less Than Vista
I always wondered if they could make an OS as hardware. Like a piece that goes between your motherboard and processor. Make it the entire OS on a SSD/board or something that you HAVE to put in place. Like the OS is on it's own little drive that fits into a MB between the processor. Maybe the processor could have grooves that only work when fit into the "OS Drive" and the OS drive has the grooves that fit into the MB so there's no bypassing it.I'm sure it could still be hacked, but I think the physical aspect of it would deter a lot more people. I'm no scientist or computer pro but that seams feasible. I'd like to hear what the actual tech people here think, I guess. Just pondering.

Also, I know the physical aspect would mean no installs on a ton of computers with one copy, like an office usually does, so there would have to be some workaround for that.
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Kaiser-Machead
05/07/09

@MJDeviant: Sounds more complicated and expensive than computers ever need to be. It's cheaper to simply have the operating system exist on the same space as the rest of the data, rather than it be an expensive (likely proprietary) format that needs a capacity exceeding 6-7 gigabytes to sufficiently store it all and its subsequent updates.
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voltron80
05/07/09

In reply to Windows 7 Will Annoy Pirates Even Less Than Vista
Good old Vista piracy protection. Every time I upgrade the BIOS I have to call MS to verify it. What a pile.
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Kaiser-Machead
05/07/09

@voltron80: And that right there is the only legit concern about the activation scheme. I have no sympathy for pirates, so if it's excruciatingly difficult for people to pirate the software, tough. But what I have issues with is how legit users are affected by tighter protections.
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Purple Dave
10/31/08

In reply to Chinese File Lawsuits Over Msoft's Piracy Crack Down
I will laugh my ass off if they have a cop standing just inside the door to arrest all the plaintiffs as they show up to sue M$oft for naginizing their illegal software.
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Voyou_Charmant
10/31/08

In reply to Chinese File Lawsuits Over Msoft's Piracy Crack Down
I actually handle license compliance for a software company. The reaction out of China is not surprising at all. On a weekly basis we receive emails threatening to sue us, telling us they contacted the attorney general, threatening us of spying, saying they sent an email to the FBI because they feel that being required to purchase additional licenses is extortion. It's pretty ridiculous.
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Voyou_Charmant
10/31/08

@Voyou_Charmant: accusing us of spying*
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adocious
10/31/08

In reply to Chinese File Lawsuits Over Msoft's Piracy Crack Down
I wonder if MS really thinks they can ever do business with the Chinese. They should just deactivate the nation's pirated copies and depart.
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SegamanXero
10/31/08

In reply to Chinese File Lawsuits Over Msoft's Piracy Crack Down
I think they are right in doing this. We stole the software, and we dont deserve it. If someone purchased it from someone who claimed it was legit, now thats different. Im quite sure a call to Micro$oft will work things out of a illegal copy was purchased unsuspectingly.
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mangochutney
10/31/08

In reply to Chinese File Lawsuits Over Msoft's Piracy Crack Down
MS already started lowering the price for China.

They started to introduce mass-licensing programs for companies, but still many companies use pirated copies.

And that's I believe MS' point:

They're not after the small citizen that can barely afford a PC, let alone the OS, but after huge companies with more than enough budget to buy legal copies of their software.
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VakeroRokero
10/31/08

@mangochutney: not to mention the previous post was:

"Bill Gates Blows $2.5 Million Decking Out His Personal "Cubicle""

Really? makes me feel a little sad I had to give up getting tires for my car, so I could pay for his $300 trashcan he has.
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Kaiser-Machead
10/31/08

@VakeroRokero: If it were me, that trash can would not only be $300, it would identify every piece of trash and recycle/shred/incinerate accordingly.
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Bokusatsu_Tenshi
10/31/08

In reply to Chinese File Lawsuits Over Msoft's Piracy Crack Down
...and this my grandson, was the start of the World War 3, also known as the Piracy Wars.
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zchendevlemh **Pacman > Hitman**
10/31/08

@Bokusatsu_Tenshi:

NOOOOOOO!!! WW3!!!

just like WW2

Allies:

US - MS

French - Apple

UK - EA

Axis:

China - Hitler

German - Pron

Japan - Pron

we all know Allies wins

so please no WW3 i don't wanna

choose between Good and Pron :(
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Kaiser-Machead
10/31/08

@zchen - lawlaw beklog oO: It's spelled pr0n.
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dosthebos2
10/31/08

In reply to Chinese File Lawsuits Over Msoft's Piracy Crack Down
they should have made their software harder to copy in the first place rather than piss people off with this lame effort.
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Kaiser-Machead
10/31/08

@dosthebos2: It doesn't matter how difficult the developers make it, so long as there's a large enough market for it, like, say, 90% of the global computing base, people will always find a way. Better mouse traps always get a few better mice.
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CTJoyce
10/31/08

In reply to Chinese File Lawsuits Over Msoft's Piracy Crack Down
I agree that Microsoft has the right to protect their IP, however think about this. A genuine copy of XP pro in china goes for 1,000 CNY (about $147 USD) which is about what a retail copy goes for here. Now when you look at that it's not a big deal to someone in the US. However the average Chinese yearly salary is something like 7,000CNY. So I don't know anyone who would be able to justify spending 1/7th of their yearly salary on an operating system. A professionally pirated copy of XP Pro is only 5CNY so the choice is obvious, pirate.

If you can't put it into perspective think a copy of XP pro costing $1,500. Would any of you buy it then? I think not. I mean look at software that is that much basically Adobe CS Master collections. And I would say I could estimate that like 60% of people who have CS4 at this point pirated it.

So basically my point, yes M$ should be able to protect their IP, but to the same tune, thy should think about adjusting the price to be more affordable.
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Heman
10/31/08

@CTJoyce: You know what. That's what I've been telling Benz and BMW. If I can't afford you, I am gonna steal ya.
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strider_mt2k
10/31/08

We'll return to tonight's movie: "Attack of the Chinese Pirates" after this...
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#windowsgenuineadvantage

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Windows 7 Will Annoy Pirates Even Less Than Vista

Chinese File Lawsuits Over Msoft's Piracy Crack Down

Microsoft Cracking Down On Pirated Software in China, Probably Starting WWIII

Microsoft Upgrades Its Nagware For Windows XP

Apple Patent Copies Windows Genuine Advantage DRM: Will It Be Just as Annoying?

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Gizmodo

Gizmodo Team

SUBSCRIBE TO Gizmodo

Windows 7 Will Annoy Pirates Even Less Than Vista

Chinese File Lawsuits Over Msoft's Piracy Crack Down

Microsoft Cracking Down On Pirated Software in China, Probably Starting WWIII

Microsoft Upgrades Its Nagware For Windows XP

Apple Patent Copies Windows Genuine Advantage DRM: Will It Be Just as Annoying?

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