Windows 7 Takes a New Approach To Fighting Piracy

Microsoft is adding a dialog box to combat software piracy in Windows 7 to protect both consumers and Microsoft. The goal is to make sure users know if their copy of Windows 7 is genuine, especially in emerging markets. For IT professionals, Windows 7 will have virtualized images and volume-activation technologies to make management easier.
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Microsoft Relevant Products/Services is taking a slightly different approach to combating piracy in Windows 7, which will offer new ways to protect consumers and ensure Microsoft's intellectual-property rights aren't violated.

When customers choose to activate Windows 7 later instead of immediately on installation, they will see a dialog box that highlights how activation helps identify whether their copy of Windows is genuine. If customers choose not to validate immediately, they can proceed without a 15-second delay.

"The guiding principle is to enable the customer to know when the software they are using is genuine and licensed and help them to do something about it if it's not," said Joe Williams, general manager of worldwide genuine Windows at Microsoft. "We also spent time thinking about how we could make activation and validation Relevant Products/Services easier for enterprises."

The Activation Mandate
Why so much focus about activation? Because software piracy is a pervasive problem that costs the world economy more than $45 billion each year, according to the Business Software Alliance. Software piracy ushers in unwanted issues such as identity theft, system failures, and data loss. IDC estimates the cost of compromised data in business environments at tens of thousands of dollars per incident.

"We think IT professionals will appreciate support in Windows 7 for virtualized images and volume-activation technologies. When Windows Vista was being developed, virtualization Relevant Products/Services was primarily a server scenario, but today many companies have it in their production environment on both the server and the client," Williams said. "We listened and adapted our management tool for organizations by making them more easily available."

Despite the seemingly relaxed rules, Williams said ensuring that customers know they have genuine software or when they might be victims of software piracy remains a priority. With Windows Vista, Microsoft reported significant strides in reducing the threat pirated copies posed to customers, its partners, and its software. It wants to do even better with Windows 7.

"One particular challenge is in emerging markets, where access to genuine software is more limited. So we're working closely with our partners to close that gap and make genuine software available," Williams said. "But more can always be done -- which is why you'll continue to see us invest in antipiracy efforts such as Windows Activation Technologies over the long term."

Still Stricter Than Apple
Microsoft has spent a lot of effort since Windows XP to make sure that Windows has to be licensed with a key and activated, because authentication keys are too easy to pass around, according to Michael Gartenberg, a vice president at Interpret.

"We are not seeing a dramatic shift in terms of Microsoft antipiracy techniques," Gartenberg said. "Microsoft is not going the way of Apple, which does not require a serial number or activation. If you have a copy of [Mac] OS X, you can install it on more than one computer. Apple offers family packs, but doesn't insist on license keys that would force you to do that. They are relying on the honor system. It doesn't appear that Microsoft is going that route."

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BY Jennifer LeClaire
Source：CIO TODAY

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