Filed under: Blogging, Microsoft, Commercial
Download from Technet yesterday? You're a dirty pirate, says MS
Well, the poisonous gas has been released.
According to a lengthy phone call between blogger Kristan Kenney and a Technet support rep, you weren't supposed to have access to that offer. If you downloaded keys or software and weren't one of the select few actually invited in my Microsoft, you're a dirty pirate.
Don't use those product keys - they've been blacklisted, and WGA will eat you alive and burn down your house if you try to use them. They can see which keys were provided to which subscriber, and they'll track you down.
I understand that the link was leaked by someone outside Microsoft and they can't be blamed for the mayhem that ensued, but come on. Is this the best solution they could come up with? What's next? Waterboarding to find the original source of the leak?
Oh well. At least we still have our Windows 7 RC to use for free until next year.
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So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sam Jordan said 6:58PM on 6-04-2009
"WGA will eat you alive and burn down your house if you try to use them."
Haha, that made me chuckle.
You know Microsoft though, not exactly the feather touch when it comes to PR.
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afjo said 7:12PM on 6-04-2009
Oh well. My company was going to buy 17200 Office licenses as a gift for our employers next week. Because of MS's handling of this case we've changed our mind. Who knows. Maybe they'll sue us for buying the licenses in june instead of july, or something equally nonsensical. We can't risk that.
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Bufsabre said 8:13PM on 6-04-2009
They should be forced to honor that since they had no system in place to catch the non invited. When it's just a link that gives you gold then its the providers fault that everyone can access it.
Or atleast offer a discount on a membership. When vista came out they offered it for 99$, they should offer that to the people who unwittingly signed up because we weren't informed enough about it and Microsoft made no effort to stop us.
I'd totally sign up for 99$.
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mike said 8:19PM on 6-04-2009
I signed the EULA! a binding contract and MS breached that contract.
If i sold MS something for $0.00 and waited until after agreement was signed to say it was a mistake and take it back, no doubt MS would sue me. Now after the agreement beween MS and I, They are calling me and all others who signed on, a "dirty pirate" in public. Thats slander and insulting.
MS isnt setting a very good example here, regardless of its original purpose or intentions as all that is now nothing more than an excuse. MS did invite us since the link was accessable to the public. They allowed us to sign up and obtain access to member services without any notice on the link saying otherwise.
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Will B said 9:15PM on 6-04-2009
quickly becoming piratesquad.com... and i like it
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Mark said 9:34PM on 6-04-2009
This was posted all over, on reputable sites like Ars Technica and Neowin. The users who signed up in good faith are in no way to blame, it's Microsoft's fault they didn't have a better system set up. However they have not called any one dirty pirates, I think that was just some creative writing by someone. In fact they have not officially made any announcements so we'll have to wait and see what they decide to do about the situation.
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Andrew said 1:16AM on 6-05-2009
I'm using the keys I got. If Microsoft wants to come knocking on my door, I'll show them my receipt. Legally, they can't touch me.
lolMYNEWAIMSNlol said 9:40PM on 6-04-2009
Ah, that's fine. I was a dirty pirate before all I did was remove the activation crack and use a real key I got from Technet.
Blacklist it and I'll just have to continue being a dirty pirate anyways.
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stomper said 10:36PM on 6-04-2009
Back to Ubuntu & Open Office.
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chinesebrother25 said 12:32AM on 6-05-2009
Apparently accounts that were created because of this error in Europe and Australia because under Australian laws, If a purchase has been accepted, processed and receipt issued (as they sent to your e-mail immediately afterwards) they are legally bound under Australian law to provide anyone who was able to register from Australia with their subscription.
They will have to provide people with their accounts because they have receipts or Microsoft will face fines from the ACCC.
I'm assuming its similar in Europe.
This really sucks for people in the US.
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Byron said 12:35AM on 6-05-2009
From what I have read, people who signed up in the UK and Australia still have their accounts because under Australian laws, If a purchase has been accepted, processed and receipt issued (as they sent to your e-mail immediately afterwards) they are legally bound under Australian law to provide anyone who was able to register from Australia with their subscription. They will have to provide people with their accounts because they have receipts or Microsoft will face fines from the ACCC.
I'm assuming its similar in Europe.
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Andrew said 1:18AM on 6-05-2009
Now you tell me. I should have signed up through an Australian proxy...
Lee Ferree said 6:21AM on 6-05-2009
Is anyone willing to send me a copy of their original receipt? Like a dummy, I didn't save mine, I only recorded the numbers.
I would like to post a screenshot of this on a blog post I'm gearing up for. Microsoft needs a good online bashing from time to time. :-) I will of course omit any of your personal information from the document.
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Lee Ferree said 6:37AM on 6-05-2009
Nevermind. The Email link to the receipt still works.
MS BLah said 9:11AM on 6-05-2009
Just when you think Microsoft is getting cooler than Apple....well at least MS doesn't make me pay for SDK's!
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HelloMS said 7:06AM on 6-05-2009
I'm also thinking about cancelling my regular non-paid Technet subscriptions, if they'll do this over a fubared website that was their mistake to begin with, think about what they'd do over a paid account?
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YoYoSoeLow said 9:36AM on 6-05-2009
It seems to me like this "leak" link is a bait and switch.
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Zoson said 9:40AM on 6-05-2009
I'm skeptical of this.
It would be illegal. We have receipts from the purchases we made.
They sold us a product. It was for $0.
What you're describing here would be theft.
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Quikboy said 10:05AM on 6-05-2009
I don't know about you, but it's pretty obvious that this seemed too good to be a deal. I didn't bother trying, because I could already guess Microsoft would never do that, and I guess I was right.
It is Microsoft's fault for not having a better system, but I also think it's upon ourselves to be more rational and think, "Now would Microsoft actually do this?" then just clicking the link as fast as you can and trying to get on this 'deal'.
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Lee Ferree said 11:08AM on 6-05-2009
I'll admit it did sound a little fishy. I was one of the people that wasted my time and signed up, thinking, "Well, maybe Microsoft is pulling some sort of publicity stunt to restore confidence in its users".
It was pretty exciting to say the least. And as I went through the process, it all seemed legit.
Oh well, that's life I guess.