Microsoft says no more software/update downloads for pirated and unlicensed windows users. This new initiative is dubbed "Windows Genuine Advantage". This is a definitely and interested take in the fight against pirated software. Will it work? Who knows. What kind of impact, if any at all, will something like this have on the Industry? Here is an interesting quote from the link: "According to the Business Software Alliance, unlicensed and pirated software costs software vendors and national economies billions of dollars every year." So then less pirated/unlicensed software means more money for Microsoft? Their focus: "Through the program, Microsoft hopes to catch distributors and systems builders that preload illegal copies of Windows on their systems. This practice costs Microsoft and law abiding system builders an estimated $31 billion per year in economic damage, according to the company."

Here is the same info from CRN.

The floor is now open for discussion/ranting.

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