To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 12:11 PM
Subject: Pirated OS was: Why I still run win98 :-)
3 months ago, I found out that my XP-Pro was pirated. All 3 of the stores are now out of business. I don't feel it's right that the store ripped off Microsoft.
What can an innocent customer do?
Nothing productive.
Those white box butchers ruined millions of people's opinions about having their computer built. When I take in a computer for repair I do an evaluation, diagnostics and consultation with the customer before I take their work order. I feel the need to disassemble most white boxes and reassemble them correctly right there in the presence of the customer before I turn it on for diagnostics.
You were discussing software. Sure, you can write to report it to Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/Reporting.mspx
but most reports of small scale violations get little attention from Microsoft. These guys can't be shut down by Microsoft as they have already shut down. It seems they took the money (the portion of the price of the operating system included in a new computer) and ran.
Some here will say that reporting violations by a business gets more attention. Actually you should do what you feel makes your conscience clear that you did all you could.
If you have a bill of sale etc. Microsoft should give you a legal authorization for your Windows (authorize it as it stands and not require you to format and reinstall) but who knows? What if they bit you for reporting it by asking that you pay them for it? I am not suggesting this would be the outcome, but sad to say, it is when you are trying to do a little extra to help somebody or society in general, this is when you get burned.
If any of the chop shops were still in business, I would highly encourage you to report them to Microsoft. I would love to see all of the chops shops who fragrantly violate the law be put out of business. If you walk into a store and grab what you want and run, you go to jail if the cops catch you. A computer shop can steal thousands of dollars via piracy and hardly ever does anyone go to jail.
Chuck
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