Posted on 11/26/2004 8:55:01 AM PST by JusticeTalion
MICROSOFT Corp. is staging another attack against software pirates with an amnesty program for unwitting users of bootlegged copies of its Windows XP operating system (OS).
The project enables the software giant to collate information about the sources of pirated software and quickly work with authorities to capture illegal traders.
In addition, the company also wants to get to the source of the problem, which it suspects is the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) sector. It promised not to prosecute individuals.
In its website, Microsoft announced the Windows XP Counterfeit Project for users who are “unsure” if they are using legitimate versions of the OS that came pre-installed in computers.
The company suspects that most pirated Windows XP copies were from resellers of OEM computers, which explains why the Counterfeit Project largely targets pre-installed versions.
Microsoft will require suspicious users to have their software submitted to them for analysis.
Users would have to apply online, then send the illegal copy -- as well as the official receipt of the PC they bought and a witness statement -- to Microsoft’s Redmond office.
Microsoft will replace the counterfeit versions, according to their terms and conditions of offer.
However, the deal only covers PCs bought before November 1.
The project also covers some European countries. There are no definite plans to make the project a worldwide activity.
It's don't talk like a pirate day at MS
Linux used to be a pretty good litttle OS long ago, but these days it is just as bloated as anything MS puts out, worse really. I have not been able to get a new Linux to run well on any of my computers. Windows runs fine, any OS that needs 200 M of ram just to perform well is bloated. Not all of us run 1000MH cpus with a gig or ram. I mainly buy old computers from where I work. Rght now my best CPU is a 200mh intel P2 with 300M of ram.
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