Microsoft offers to replace fake copies of Windows XP
Software pirates' increasing skill at creating counterfeit versions of Windows XP has prompted Microsoft to introduce a pilot programme that offers to verify whether consumers' software is legitimate, and to replace fake versions with authentic goods.
The pilot programme was launched on Wednesday in the UK, and is aimed at tracking down counterfeit versions of Windows XP that come pre-installed on new PCs sold by systems integrators. Microsoft is hoping to glean information on counterfeiters and their techniques for creating what company representatives have characterised as 'high-quality' fakes of Windows XP.
"Not only has the piracy rate increased in recent years, but the level of sophistication is unprecedented," says Alex Hilton, licence compliance manager at Microsoft UK.
Consumers who suspect that their software may not be legitimate can send it in for analysis. If Microsoft finds the software is counterfeit, it is offering to replace it for free, with certain terms and conditions, such as a proof of purchase.
Microsoft is hoping that the programme will also make customers aware of the difficulties of not having legitimate software, Hilton says. Companies that buy PCs with pirated software not only face legal concerns, but could find that their network security is compromised, he says.
