Microsoft claims software pirates prefer Windows XP to Windows Vista.
Bonnie MacNaughton, a senior lawyer at Microsoft, said: "Historically, counterfeiters tend to focus on the 'n-1' version of software. Because of the more robust antipiracy and security features in Vista, most sophisticated piracy rings still continue to focus on XP. But that's changing over time."
That pirates have stuck with XP - which retains the bulk of the Windows operating system's market share - is "very consistent with what we've seen in counterfeiting in the past," said MacNaughton.
"There's usually a lag of between one and two years [before they can] figure out how to replicate those antipiracy and security features."
Counterfeiters currently copy Office 2003 rather than the newer Office 2007 for the same reasons, she said.
"As counterfeiters have got more sophisticated, we have realised that this is not a situation that we can address alone," she said. "And we want to stress the collaboration with Microsoft's partners and customers, and governments."
In the US, Microsoft filed 20 new lawsuits in federal court against software resellers that, according to the company's allegations, either sold pirated copies of Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Office or installed the counterfeit software on new PCs.
"We're expecting that counterfeiters will attempt to fill the void at XP's end of sales," added MacNaughton.
Microsoft will halt Windows XP Professional sales to small computer sellers after January 31, 2009. Larger computer manufacturers such as Dell and HP, however, will be able to obtain XP media for 'downgrades' from Vista Business and Vista Ultimate licenses through the end of July 2009.
According to MacNaughton, Microsoft will roll out a campaign in early 2009 that will remind people of XP's demise and warn them that copies they obtain after those end-of-sale dates could be counterfeit.
"We're planning [a campaign] in January or February to make sure our customers know what our rules and policies are about Windows XP, to make sure they understand what may be illegitimate and what may be legitimate," she said. "We want to make sure that the XP they might be getting is genuine."
Comments
Totally-braindead said: Personally I dont think that the super much advertised Vista security measures are the reason that they are not targetting it I think its more than likely because many prefer XP Microsoft seem to be trying to say that Vistas advanced security means it cannot at this moment in time be cracked And I for one believe thats just not true They are just trying to use this as a way to frighten people to get VistaSorry Microsoft but it just wont work for me I have genuine XP I also have genuine Vista I took off the Vista as it slowed my PC down so much I was tearing my hair out Oh and about the security thing My PC is running XP and its secure I do not need or want Vista
Nah said: Theyre just trying to make people feel uncomfortable about not upgrading Basically saying if you dont upgrade straight away youre in with the pirates
Poit said: UK Ill ignore the juvenile nonsense from Skidz where do these twits come from and say that I do agree with you that Microsoft should look at releasing a free if not open source platform and draw revenue from applications written for it One problem though is that corporations are divided into different divisions which actually compete with each other so the branch that produces the OS would probably cry Foul
David Gerard said: Global Anti-Piracy Day is rather tasteless and offensive of Microsoft given the actual robbery and murder at sea currently in the news off the coast of Somalia Copying that floppy is hardly comparable Offensive idiotsMy blog rant tinyurlcom5rt664
Skidz said: Ukyou were lucky not to upgrade to vista coz it sucks big time
uk said: If Vista wasnt so badly priced i would have upgraded - but there is no way I would spend more than 30 on a operating system Msofts prices are far far to high - they should look at releasing new one for 30 and making up the lost revenue by other means - such as maybe all the ads they bombard me with through messenger I wish there was annother operating system I could get not made by msoft