[brlug-general] Getting blood from a stone (a sad tale)

[Tim Fournet]

Mat is right. I called microsoft up on the provision that Windows Server 
2003 Enterprise Edition allows for up to four virtual machines running 
either Enterprise or Standard Edition. I wanted to install a Standard 
Edition and didn't have the media or an OEM key. Their licensing rep's 
response was that neither Microsoft nor my system manufacturer has the 
responsibility of providing me media or keys for it, and to just find 
any media I can (friends, internet, etc) and any CD key that works, and 
then when Activation complains about it, call MS up and explain what you 
did, and they'll activate for you.

Apparently the same goes for Vista. I bought a laptop with Vista on it, 
and after spending enough time with it to figure out how annoying it is, 
I took it off and put Fedora 7 on. However, every now and then I want to 
be able to boot into Windows for a game or to test some software. From 
reading Microsoft's licensing site, I found that Vista licenses include 
downgrade rights to XP, but there is no responsibility for OEMs or MS to 
provide keys or media. Find your own, install, and explain to the 
Activation reps why you deserve activation.


Shannon Roddy wrote:
> On 6/21/07, mat branyon <mat.branyon at gmail.com> wrote:
>   
>>   Its not illegal if you own the software you are downloading
>>
>>     
>
> Try arguing that once you are sued.  ;-)  $20,000 in attorney fees
> later it might be dismissed.  Don't get me started on the highly
> profitable extortion scheme DirecTV used or the guilty until proven
> innocent attitude of the RIAA, MPAA, and BSA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> General mailing list
> General at brlug.net
> http://mail.brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net
>