Hehe @ Microsoft.

[Eric]

I just happened to browse the new updates they had available, and this one caught my eye:

Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (KB905474)
Date last published: 4/25/2006
Download size: 829 KB
The Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool notifies you if your copy of Windows is not genuine. If your system is found to be a non-genuine, the tool will help you obtain a licensed copy of Windows.

[Lox]

I just happened to browse the new updates they had available, and this one caught my eye:

Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (KB905474)
Date last published: 4/25/2006
Download size: 829 KB
The Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool notifies you if your copy of Windows is not genuine. If your system is found to be a non-genuine, the tool will help you obtain a licensed copy of Windows.

I guess that's more for small businesses that need to be careful that they're not using illegal copies of software and such but don't purchase huge license agreements or something.

It'll be funny the first time a person at home gets notified.

[Zeus]

That's a lot like the Pirate TV channels that Dishnet puts out. If you have an illegal satellite, they send you these channels in which a guy informs you that you do not have a legit satellite then offers to switch you to a legit satellite, thus paying Dishnet on a monthly basis, at no charge with no questions asked.

Yeah, that's gonna work. I think it's the only thing they have left, playing on people's consciousness, since they can't actually stop them.

[Don]

Err no, these things are there so if you bought a pirated copy without knowing it is pirated, you've a way to get what you paid for. You'd probably be more inclined to help them bust the guy who sell you a pirated copy if you paid a lot for the pirated copy while not knowing it was pirated and you get a genuine copy for free, so it works out for both side. It's not meant to discourage people who knowingly pirated the stuff.

[Nev]

Advantage - Don!

[Zeus]

Err no, these things are there so if you bought a pirated copy without knowing it is pirated, you've a way to get what you paid for. You'd probably be more inclined to help them bust the guy who sell you a pirated copy if you paid a lot for the pirated copy while not knowing it was pirated and you get a genuine copy for free, so it works out for both side. It's not meant to discourage people who knowingly pirated the stuff.

If you accidentally buy a pirated satellite, you're probably so dumb, I'd be surprised if you could find a door to get out of the house in the morning. How the HELL do you buy one by mistake?

[Imakeholesinu]

Err no, these things are there so if you bought a pirated copy without knowing it is pirated, you've a way to get what you paid for. You'd probably be more inclined to help them bust the guy who sell you a pirated copy if you paid a lot for the pirated copy while not knowing it was pirated and you get a genuine copy for free, so it works out for both side. It's not meant to discourage people who knowingly pirated the stuff.

If you accidentally buy a pirated satellite, you're probably so dumb, I'd be surprised if you could find a door to get out of the house in the morning. How the HELL do you buy one by mistake?

Buy it through a vendor who doesn't have licenses IE an Expo, Flea Market, garage sale, someone's cousin etc etc.

[Nev]

Err no, these things are there so if you bought a pirated copy without knowing it is pirated, you've a way to get what you paid for. You'd probably be more inclined to help them bust the guy who sell you a pirated copy if you paid a lot for the pirated copy while not knowing it was pirated and you get a genuine copy for free, so it works out for both side. It's not meant to discourage people who knowingly pirated the stuff.

If you accidentally buy a pirated satellite, you're probably so dumb, I'd be surprised if you could find a door to get out of the house in the morning. How the HELL do you buy one by mistake?

As I understand it, the first step is to live in Russia, China, or certain Southeastern Asian countries where the software pirates take great, great pains to copy the look and feel of software boxes perfectly, and the infrastructure isn't set up to stop piracy of that sort the way it is in First World countries.

And what the snoober do *satellites* have to do with anything? We're talking about software.

Seriously, what's up with you, man? The Zeus I know would have seen where Don was coming from a mile a way, and offered him cookies when he got there...