Microsoft to Tighten Anti-Piracy Noose in Vista. In response to "overly optimistic" sales forecasts for its Vista operating system, Microsoft Corp. plans to "dial up" the anti-piracy technology built into this latest version of Windows. No doubt this move will boost Microsoft's sales to some degree, but if previous experience with Microsoft's anti-piracy methods in Windows XP is any indicator, this new effort is just as likely to alienate or anger many legitimate users.
CEO Steve Ballmer revealed the anti-piracy plans in a conference call with Wall Street financial analysts last week, according to this Computerworld article. "'One way Microsoft can bump up Windows sales is to tighten the screws on pirates,' Ballmer said. "Piracy reduction can be a source of Windows revenue growth, and I think we'll make some piracy improvements this year."
The Computerworld story says the expansion of the Windows Genuine Advantage plan is part of an effort to squeeze more revenue from China, India, Brazil, Russia and other emerging markets.
Online PC help forums are littered with reports from legitimate Windows users who have been errantly flagged as software pirates by Microsoft, so here's hoping that the company can iron out some of the kinks in its anti-piracy detection and reporting technology. [Security Fix]
11:10:50 AM 
|
