Tweet
Microsoft to limit access to 'patches'
By Richard Waters in San Francisco
Published: January 27 2005 02:00 | Last updated: January 27 2005 02:00
Microsoft stepped up its fight against software piracy yesterday, announcing that only users of valid copies of the Windows PC operating system would be able to receive updates and security "patches" for their software.
Source
The change, to take effect in the second half of this year, reflects an ironic benefit to Microsoft from the many vulnerabilities that virus writers and other hackers have found in the Windows code.
Since software "repairs" are only available via downloads from Microsoft's website, the company will be able to limit access to the new software to authorised Windows users.
Piracy has been a particular problem for Microsoft in China and some other parts of the developing world, which it has targeted as the main potential source of growth for the desktop operating system. The company estimates lost sales in China alone, where piracy rates top 90 per cent, at $2bn a year.
The prevalence of software piracy in China has not diminished despite pressure from the US on the Chinese authorities to take more decisive action on the matter, according to US software executives.
By Richard Waters in San Francisco
Published: January 27 2005 02:00 | Last updated: January 27 2005 02:00
Microsoft stepped up its fight against software piracy yesterday, announcing that only users of valid copies of the Windows PC operating system would be able to receive updates and security "patches" for their software.
Source
The change, to take effect in the second half of this year, reflects an ironic benefit to Microsoft from the many vulnerabilities that virus writers and other hackers have found in the Windows code.
Since software "repairs" are only available via downloads from Microsoft's website, the company will be able to limit access to the new software to authorised Windows users.
Piracy has been a particular problem for Microsoft in China and some other parts of the developing world, which it has targeted as the main potential source of growth for the desktop operating system. The company estimates lost sales in China alone, where piracy rates top 90 per cent, at $2bn a year.
The prevalence of software piracy in China has not diminished despite pressure from the US on the Chinese authorities to take more decisive action on the matter, according to US software executives.