BellBoy
Obama racist? Then Bush is Hitler.
Premium
join:2001-02-20
Los Angeles, CA
clubs:
 ·Pacific Bell - SBC
1 edit | Boo F-in Hoo
"The two lawsuits appear to be similar in the claims and both are without merit," said Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler . "They distort our antipiracy program…and the harm piracy brings to Microsoft and to customers."
...and the harm of M$ poking their noses around people's computers that are already paranoid about damage done to their personal information because of M$'s desire to constantly release lousy operating systems.
Sue their asses and keep them honest...expose the code that's doing the snooping. M$ already has the market share for global domination...how much more greedy can they get?
What are they afraid of...Apple? They should be... |
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Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
 ·Site5.com
·AT&T Midwest
 ·Comcast
| Reaching?
I am all for Microsoft protecting themselves from piracy. Heck, look at a lot of software makers out there and the software they have that checks for pirated license keys and such. You don't see companies going after them for checking for legit keys. You do see lawsuits being filed against Microsoft though.
quote:
WGA gathers data that can easily identify individual PCs, and WGA can be modified remotely to collect additional information at Microsoft's initiation.
I suppose that license checks could be modified to include additional information. So could other piracy checks that other software makers use as well. Once again, whats the difference? On the other hand, does it need to run all the time to check the license key? Why not just run once at startup and then unload?
I think it is a reach to call it spyware, but at the same time, Microsoft could make it better than it is now.
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nekkidtruth
You fail at life.
Premium
join:2002-05-20
London, ON
1 edit | *sigh*
The sad part is, we're in a no-win situation here.
Piracy allegedly (I say allegedly because there are valid reasons for piracy) hurts everyone and is a big issue. A logical response would be to create some type of an activation system and or authentication system as those we're starting to see.
The problem with this, is these companies can't be trusted one bit to secure their own software and nothing more.
These massive corporations become especially greedy and demand more information than necessary and often times try to get this information using means by which any normal person would find "shady".
There will always be someone to crack/hack/pirate software no matter how much they try to lock it down. The sad fact is this war will continue and no one will win. In the meantime, whether you use pirated software or not, we are all suffering because no one can stop the pirates, and the corporations are greedy.
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| Like Lawsuits Scare Microsoft
I find it funny that people act like Microsoft is somehow defecating while clothed as a result of these lawsuits. This is the same company that ran out the clock on the US Government and is now giving the EU a run for its money. Does anyone really think some silly little lawsuit is going to stop it?
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Tancredo 2008! |
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to nekkidtruth
Re: *sigh*
said by nekkidtruth  :The sad part is, we're in a no-win situation here. Piracy allegedly (I say allegedly because there are valid reasons for piracy).. And just what valid reason would that be?
Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of Micro$oft, and I could take or leave their overpriced, unsecured, spywared OS, but just when did stealing become acceptable?
If I were to walk into Best Buy, grab a box that had a windows XP upgrade in it (cheapest copy available @ about $99) stuff it under my sweatshirt and get caught trying to take it, I would get locked up. Pirating it is no different. It's stealing.
Is Microsoft greedy? Sure they are, everyone who's in business is there to make money. But 2 wrongs don't make a right, and you have no right to someone else's property, intellectual or otherwise, without fair compensation. |
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FiL
Premium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD
| M...S...Phone...Home...
"I am all for Microsoft protecting themselves from piracy. Heck, look at a lot of software makers out there and the software they have that checks for pirated license keys and such. You don't see companies going after them for checking for legit keys. You do see lawsuits being filed against Microsoft though"
I think an OS builder that engineers and gets paid off of the software that runs ALL PC's sans Linux, has more of a responsibilty to provide proper services without the spyware gahhbage than any other software maker...the WGA tool is gay, you and I know that, and shouldnt have been phoning home like a cheap ET ripoff. Least ET had that cool little glowing finger. Maybe if Gates head would glow when XP called him, I'd be cool with it. Otherwise, stay the hell off my line. |
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GenBlood
join:2005-04-14
Nashua, NH
| The only people that is going to win is the lawyers ...
This lawsuit is stupid ...
Microsoft tries to do something better and people complain
and scream. The WGA is going to be fixed and it will
get better. Sueing doesn't make it happen any faster.
Microsoft beat the DOJ ... an this will be no different
Microsoft will win at the end and so do the lawyers...  |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| reply to pnh102
Re: Like Lawsuits Scare Microsoft
WGA should like check and if the installed copy is genuine, write a registry entry somewhere then DELETE ITSELF. its not like a legit copy becomes pirated on the next boot. And i doubt its the pirates that are bringing forth these lawsuits.
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth |
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chemaupr
join:2005-06-06
Alexandria, VA | reply to pnh102
heck No!!!!
You all can compliant about MS all you want but their software and OS have ruled these decades just because they understand their end consumers (and some muscles of course). |
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quanta
Premium
join:2002-05-07
Toronto, ON
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Bell Sympatico
| reply to N3OGH
Re: *sigh*
There is one circumstance I can think of: abandonware. What if you need a program that is no longer sold or supported? In the eyes of the law, procuring it illicitly would be copyright infringement (technically not "stealing" btw).
Stephen Hawking is actually a victim of such a problem - his circa 1980s speech synthesizer software is closed-source, and the originating developer doesn't even exist anymore.
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lawrence171
Evilly Yours - Evilness
join:2001-12-24
Canada
| reply to nekkidtruth
If price point is low enough, I'd buy the legit OS... like I did...
$165 CDN for OEM XP Pro is not THAT bad, considering what Windows XP does for me that the competition cannot.
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What I used to be I no longer am... God, why can't you freeze time for my sake? |
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to quanta
said by quanta :There is one circumstance I can think of: abandonware. What if you need a program that is no longer sold or supported? In the eyes of the law, procuring it illicitly would be copyright infringement (technically not "stealing" btw). Stephen Hawking is actually a victim of such a problem - his circa 1980s speech synthesizer software is closed-source, and the originating developer doesn't even exist anymore. I can agree with that. Since the original owner has abandoned it, and has no intention of recovering financially from the program, I don't see that as stealing. I think pirating a copy of Windows 95 would fall into this category. Microsoft stopped selling it a LONG time ago, and has no designs on ever making a buck off it ever again. They're not putting any more money into updating it or supporting it.
The most up to date version of a program, IMHO, is a different story. While MS makes tons of cash off their customers, they have to lay out a considerable amount of money to put that OS out there, write the updates, and etc.
Using the rationale that Microsoft is this huge company with all this money, and that makes it right is simple BS.
People apply that same rationale to inflating their insurance claim when they're in a car accident by faking an injury. It's called insurance fraud, and people go to jail for it.
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Never ask what sort of a computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If not, why embarrass him? -Tom Clancy |
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FiL
Premium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD
2 edits | lmao
"Microsoft Beats the Department Of Justice"
That would've been a helluva headline. Though, if read for the first time, I wouldnt know what to think. A good thing? A bad thing? I mean, 2 wrongs cant really battle over for whats right. hehe.
Microsoft was trying to help by using my internet connection everyday to every week to make sure their product on my PC is legit?
To all the people that love throwing out the "getcha tinfoil!" yada yada, you might wanna turn off your PC right now, as not doing so proves your a hypocrite. Is it our fault, paying customers, that Microsoft is PARANOID their OS is being pirated and in turn uses EVERYONE's connection to make sure? (at least those that fell for the ploy?)
MS used my line for their paranoid search, slowed my updates channel by basically forcing me to install the gahhbage WGA, throw in EVEN IF YOUR COPY WAS LEGIT, THERE WAS STILL A CHANCE YOUR COPY OF XP WAS GOING TO BE LOCKED, and its no wonder lotsa folks were given more fuel to their "F MS" fire. Which at this points more like hells inferno. 
rant off. |
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Jim Gurd
Premium
join:2000-07-08
Plymouth, MI | reply to quanta
Re: *sigh*
If that's the case there would be nobody who would have legal standing to litigate a piracy claim. |
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ricep5
Premium
join:2000-08-07
Jacksonville, FL
·AT&T Southeast
 ·AT&T CallVantage
·VoicePulse
·Comcast Formerly ..
| reply to pnh102
Re: Like Lawsuits Scare Microsoft
said by pnh102 :I find it funny that people act like Microsoft is somehow defecating while clothed as a result of these lawsuits. This is the same company that ran out the clock on the US Government and is now giving the EU a run for its money. Does anyone really think some silly little lawsuit is going to stop it? Ask Stac Electronics! It didn't even make the news when they filed suit for infringement against Microsoft. The media was stunned when the judge ruled against MS and they were forced to pay a judgement.
It does happen. |
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Hellrazor
join:2002-02-02
Abyss
| reply to GenBlood
Re: The only people that is going to win is the lawyers ...
WGA has nothing to do with 'better'. Its spyware, not an anti-piracy tool. We spend time installing AV/etc s/w that prevents things from phoning home and MS creates more. Its no different than the BS with reactivation when you upgrade too much. You buy a copy of the s/w to use and they make it inconvenient on legit users. And they practicly give it away where piracy is heavy in the 3rd world countries.
But because Billybob gives his money to help the poor countries its all ok that he screws us. |
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chemaupr
join:2005-06-06
Alexandria, VA
| reply to FiL
Re: lmao
OVER complaining...
At the most the WGA will use a few seconds of your cpu time and internet connectioins. I do not get all this complaining. You agree to the terms of use of their OS. If you do not like it buy a MAC....
Privacy!!! well at this point you need to understand that if YOUR GOVERNMENT does not respect your privacy why will a private coorporation will. |
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Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ | reply to nekkidtruth
Re: *sigh*
if MS kept the Windows 98 system of allowing one CD for multiple PCs i bet piracy would decline.
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Ahrenl
join:2004-10-26
North Andover, MA
·Verizon FIOS
| This stuff only hurts their paying customers...
Do a search on Google for how to remove the WGA tool. Anyone who is pirating Windows already knows how to get around it; plus most of them probably didn't install it in the first place.
All this did was piss off all the customers who decided to do the right thing and pay for their own copy, even though it priced for corporations and not consumers. The fact that I can build an entire PC for the cost of one license of Win XP professional is a little much I think.. Does M$ really add more value to your PC then Intel/AMD or the motherboard/memory manufacturer? I think not. Monopoly abuse at its finest! |
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Pz_
join:2001-03-31
Brownsburg, IN
clubs: | reply to Nightfall
Re: Reaching?
MS unload a program? Just take a look at that long process list that is loaded by default to get the answer to that. |
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