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LICENSING YOUR SOFTWARE: - Software PiracyYour Licensing Responsibilities
Product Activation:
In an effort to reduce software piracy and ensure that Microsoft's customers receive the product quality they expect, Product Activation technology is being included in several Microsoft products. Visit Microsoft's Piracy Portal for great tips and tools for combating piracy and verifying your copy of windows and applications.
Visit the Microsoft Piracy Portal
TO DO OR NOT TO DO
* DO buy your new PC preinstalled with genuine Microsoft OEM Windows software.
* DO NOT use Volume licence media to install the initial Microsoft Windows licence on a new PC.
* DO NOT transfer OEM software from one computer system to another.
Types of Piracy to Watch Out For
End-user copying
The installation of software by an organisation (or individual) on more computers than its licence allows and the informal sharing of media containing a software program among friends and colleagues.
Counterfeiting
Counterfeiting is the large-scale illegal duplication and distribution of imitation software. Counterfeiting groups use sophisticated techniques to produce their imitations and pass them off as genuine and can have links with organised crime.
Hard-disk loading
Dishonest PC system builders may sell PCs with unlicensed, pre-installed software. These dealers use one copy of a software program but install it illegally on several machines. In addition, the original disks and the documents that should be supplied with the PC are often missing or incomplete and - if they are supplied - they frequently turn out to be counterfeit.
Fake licensing
Fake licences are loose End-User Licence Agreements (Eula’s) that would normally be found in retail packaged box but which have been sold on their own as 'licences'. These Eula’s also often prove to be counterfeit. Both these types of Eula’s are worthless.
Internet piracy
The use of the internet to distribute illegally copied or unauthorised software is called internet piracy. Offenders may use the internet for all, or some of their operations, including the advertising, offering, acquiring, or distribution of pirated software.
All of these activities are illegal and put users at risk because the licence to use the software does not permit either activity. |
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