Microsoft tackles China piracy with free upgrade to Windows 10

[bluesmanuk]

Interesting story that could potentially have a twist/loophole.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/18/us-microsoft-china-idUSKBN0ME06A20150318

All those in China that currently use pirated copies of Windows will get a free legitimate upgrade to Windows 10.

I wonder if the Chinese manufacturers might spot an opportunity to bypass any possible licensing costs for 10 (assuming that there will be any at all of course) in supplying boxes wholesale with the 30 day evaluation and a pirated key, knowing that if each box is connected to the Chinese internet at least once, they will then become eligible to receive a genuine licence key for 10 that they could pass onto the customers who buy in the run up to launch.

As an aside, this article also states that Microsoft will not be storing a recovery image locally, which means more space on boxes in the future.

http://bgr.com/2015/03/17/window-10-update-storage/

[no_spam_for_me]

does it mean, if I connect via a VPN with server at China, I will get a free legitimate upgrade to Windows 10 and/or genuine licence key for 10 ?

[JustMe]

does it mean, if I connect via a VPN with server at China, I will get a free legitimate upgrade to Windows 10 and/or genuine licence key for 10 ?

you crack me up no_spam_for_me good to have laugh once in a while

[trebor]

does it mean, if I connect via a VPN with server at China, I will get a free legitimate upgrade to Windows 10 and/or genuine licence key for 10 ?

Depends.....
Did you get it from china. They know what version you have. or do they

[bluesmanuk]

does it mean, if I connect via a VPN with server at China, I will get a free legitimate upgrade to Windows 10 and/or genuine licence key for 10 ?

That's an interesting perspective and you might well get away with it.

[Flumpster]

That's an interesting perspective and you might well get away with it.

From what I have read, even tho this is mainly because of china this will happen everywhere not just in china so no vpn will be required.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/18/8241023/windows-10-free-for-software-pirates

http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/windows-10-launches-this-summer-targets-current-pirates-with-free-update/

http://www.wired.com/2015/03/windows-10-upgrades-will-free-even-pirates-no-joke/

[bluesmanuk]

From what I have read, even tho this is mainly because of china this will happen everywhere not just in china so no vpn will be required.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/18/8241023/windows-10-free-for-software-pirates

http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/windows-10-launches-this-summer-targets-current-pirates-with-free-update/

http://www.wired.com/2015/03/windows...rates-no-joke/

Very interesting.

Microsoft seem to be doing things that will be universally popular at the moment and the torrent sites will be overloaded in the run up lol

[otisrhw]

Yeah nothing to do with taking market share back from apple or making money from app sales. Good way to do business love the touch screens and windows 8 is growing on me! could be a turn around.

[JustMe]

Here's Microsoft's statement:

"We have always been committed to ensuring that customers have the best Windows experience possible. With Windows 10, although non-Genuine PCs may be able to upgrade to Windows 10, the upgrade will not change the genuine state of the license. Non-Genuine Windows is not published by Microsoft. It is not properly licensed, or supported by Microsoft or a trusted partner. If a device was considered non-genuine or mis-licensed prior to the upgrade, that device will continue to be considered non-genuine or mis-licensed after the upgrade."

[Flumpster]

Here's Microsoft's statement:

"We have always been committed to ensuring that customers have the best Windows experience possible. With Windows 10, although non-Genuine PCs may be able to upgrade to Windows 10, the upgrade will not change the genuine state of the license. Non-Genuine Windows is not published by Microsoft. It is not properly licensed, or supported by Microsoft or a trusted partner. If a device was considered non-genuine or mis-licensed prior to the upgrade, that device will continue to be considered non-genuine or mis-licensed after the upgrade."

That seems the complete opposite of everything they have said. Please show me the source for that quote.

Edit. Found it, they released a second statement. This seems illogical.

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/03/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-for-pirates-more-confusing-than-it-seems/

[bluesmanuk]

It may be one of those cases where a person present at a meeting decides to go public before final decisions have been made, or perhaps they realised that there may be loopholes that could allow many more people to essentially get a free copy and then changed their minds overnight.

Their revised decision is quit sensible if they then offer those with these non legitimate copies the chance to upgrade for a token amount, say $/£10

They seem to have given up on doing anything legally to stop the pirating, so are possibly thinking along more than one line to come up with a strategy.

[JustMe]

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/03/windows-10-will-be-a-free-upgrade-for-genuine-and-non-genuine-users/

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/2190/sorry-microsoft-is-not-giving-free-windows-10-to-pirates