Microsoft to launch anti-piracy initiative

[DigitalX]

IF you use a pirated Windows Operating System and download new updates and drivers from the Microsoft download centre, you may be in for a surprise from July 26.

 

In a global initiative aimed at nudging users to shift to genuine Windows software, Microsoft will kick off its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program from July 26.

 

Under this, users of pirated Windows XP and 2000 Operating System who want to download new updates and drivers will have to go for a Legalisation SKU priced Rs 4,000-4,500 for Windows XP Home, and less than Rs 6,500 for Windows XP Professional.

 

As per Business Software Alliance, India ranks 20 in global software piracy, with a rate of 73 per cent.

 

China ranks second with a rate of 92 per cent and annual losses of $3,823 million, while Pakistan ranks nine with a 83-per cent piracy rate.

 

"In India, research has shown that as much as 50 per cent of the people using pirated software are willing to buy genuine software if they have the ability to identify it. It has also revealed that price is not the only factor for people, and they would buy genuine software if they see value in it," Mr Rishi Srivastava, Director, Windows Client Business Group, Microsoft India, said here.

 

With this initiative in place, users of Windows OS, attempting to download new updates such as drivers and other applications from the MS download centre, would be asked to validate their software online by feeding a unique product key that can be found on the certificate of authenticity that comes with every piece of genuine software.

 

Once validated, the user would get access to premium content on the download centre.

 

The activation code or the product key used to identify a genuine user of Windows cannot be used by bulk users for downloads.

 

Users of pirated software unable to validate would be given an option to buy genuine Windows XP and install it onto the PC for a price cheaper than the retail version or off-the-shelf box, which costs about Rs 5,000 for Windows XP Home.

 

"In India, the retail version is a fraction of our overall sales for Windows, and therefore we do not expect the legalisation SKU to have a significant impact on this part of our business," said Mr Srivastava.

 

Elaborating on the benefits that will be offered to genuine Windows software users, he said, "Microsoft's Photoediting and managing software PhotoStory 3, which is sold in retail globally, would be available for free download for genuine Windows users behind WGA. In addition, our anti-spyware software would be available for free through WGA, once the software is launched," Mr Srivastava said.

 

Besides this, Microsoft plans to make available discounted offerings on smartphones and games for the Indian audience in particular. However, the company plans to continue offering critical security updates to all users - irrespective of whether they have genuine and pirated software.

 

"This is aimed at ensuring that hundreds of millions of users are not left in the lurch after July 26," he said.

 

 

4,000 Rs is approx $91.92 US. 6,500 Rs is approx $149.37 US