Microsoft has stepped up its fight against software piracy by requiring
users to verify their copies of the Windows operating system.
Anyone downloading updates for Windows XP will be required to check that
their operating system is genuine. Security updates are exempt from this
in order to prevent people spreading viruses across the internet. A
third of software worldwide is fake, according to industry group, the
Business Software Alliance.
Losing billions: Microsoft said that more than a third of its software
is counterfeit, which means billions of dollars of lost income. With
Windows accounting for 90% of operating systems sold worldwide, cracking
down on the pirates is one of the few ways for Microsoft to expand its
business.
"This is another tool in our arsenal," said David Lazar, director of
Genuine Windows for Microsoft.
Customers who discover that their copy of Windows is pirated have two
options. They can get a free version of Windows if they fill out a
counterfeit report identifying the source of the software, providing
proof of purchase and returning the counterfeit CD.
If they are unable to provide all the information, filling out a report
will entitle them to receive a copy of Windows XP Home Edition for the
reduced price of £56 or Windows XP Professional Edition for £86. The new
policy is part of Windows Genuine Advantage, a scheme set up by
Microsoft in September to encourage people to use legitimate software.
The firm has been offering incentives, in the form of freebies such as
photo slide-show software, to persuade people to use the service.
Source: BBC
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