Microsoft has been acquitted of misleading consumers over labelling the roll-out of its Windows Genuine Advantage anti-piracy software a 'critical security update'.
Complaints had been made about WGA, which collected information on people's PCs before communicating it back to Microsoft, and a case was brought over labelling the program as a 'security update' for users.
Microsoft labelled the class-action certification "demonstrably false", and that opinion has been backed up by the US Federal Court's Judge Jones.
Compensation
Microsoft have now been given the option of demanding compensation over the money it has spent in court defending itself – although it has not commented if it will pursue this option.
The company is hardly a stranger to the law courts; it was recently forced to withdraw part of the Microsoft Office suite from sale over a patent dispute, and has just launched a lawsuit on TiVo.
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tech89
January 22nd 2010
3. WGA just makes sure you have a proper copy of MS Windows software.
If your running a pirate copy of windows then your going to be screwed as it will stop it from working or prevent some programs from operationg, but only if it's a pirate copy.
And well, that's the consequence of downloading illegal software...
MS is just looking after its software sales and deactivating any copies of windows that are not genuine. Which is fair enough to me too.
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serendipity
January 21st 2010
2. "But, WGA is an example of pure corporate greed with no concern for what damage it may do to the interests of legitimate IT businesses should it misfire."
Sorry I don't understand your point. If I want to download an update or some freebie software from Microsoft, WGA checks first that I have a properly licensed copy of Windows. I don't have a problem with that. It seems fair enough to me.
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anteaus
January 21st 2010
1. Oh boy. If that is a "security update" then the Pirate Bay is a registered charity.
I sympathize with MS over patent claims, patents should never have been allowed on software. But, WGA is an example of pure corporate greed with no concern for what damage it may do to the interests of legitimate IT businesses should it misfire.
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