Has Microsoft actually ever caught someone...

[Jonny]

who has used illegal copies of there software?

Or a better question, of all the people they know are doing it, how many have they actually took action against? Would it only be companies, or have home users been caught?

I was just thinking about that today, we all know its wrong but the thought of getting in trouble for it never has really sunk in.

Any thoughts?

 

[MrChicken]

I know that they have nailed several system builders in the last few years for selling many copies of the OS with only 1 license.

When I read about this I didnt know any of the system builders, I think they were all local type places, not national brand type companies.

 

[Kadarin]

My thoughts (which are worth what you are paying for them) are that Microsoft primarily goes after corporate customers by means of license audits done through the BSA (Business Software Alliance). From what I understand, most of their "intelligence" comes from disgruntled former employees who call their hotline.

-j

 

[datalink7]

I think they are presently in the process of sueing all the states that sued them (for unfair buisness practices) for having illegal copies of microsoft programs installed on government owned computers.

The Empire Strkes Back

 

[Saltin]

They are auditing Utah's state computer's right now. Utah decided to stay in the Anti-trust law suit. Lol.

Generally, they don't do it on a user by user basis. They come and get a whole town. The place I grew up in had a popultion of 65,000 when I was born. Then MS came in and did an audit. Now there's only 23,400 of us. We were told not to ask what happend to the others.......sometimes I think about it though.

 

[Jonny]

ROTFLMAO Saltin!

 

[ILikeSprite]

yup........ they came into my home and took my hard drives and all my cdrs.

 

[Danman]

<< They are auditing Utah's state computer's right now. Utah decided to stay in the Anti-trust law suit. Lol.

Generally, they don't do it on a user by user basis. They come and get a whole town. The place I grew up in had a popultion of 65,000 when I was born. Then MS came in and did an audit. Now there's only 23,400 of us. We were told not to ask what happend to the others.......sometimes I think about it though. >>



Scary....... :Q My Dad works for Sun Microsystems and hates all Microsoft things, he supports me pirating Microsoft software.

 

[voodooguy]

It is not cost-effective to go after individual users.

Individual users do not have enough money to negotiate a settlement. They will almost always choose to fight it out in court. This is bad for Microsoft. It means potentially years of wasted man-hours and court costs.

Microsoft usually tries to scare large corporations into negotiating a settlement with them, by forcing them to buy 2 or 3 times the licenses that they actually need. That is how they make a significant portion of their income.

 

[UberNeuman]

Bill Gates and Stever Ballmer broke into my house and demanded I sing song with them

Damn Microsoft..........