Micro$oft System Builders Please read.

What is the Deal with M$? Seems like I am on some spam list to recieve the latest and greatest list of who Micro$oft is tring to sue. I DO NOT condone software piracy in any way but give me a brake, I don't care. There motto has changed to "Who do you want to sue today" This is the type of messages I get from them...

Microsoft continues to work towards levelling the playing field for honest
> system builders. Throughout the United States, approximately 1 in 4
> business software programs in pirated. In Florida, the BSA estimates that
> the rate of pirated software could be as high as 30% in the retail
> channel. As a result of continued investigations and efforts to stop
> piracy, Microsoft has filed complaints against two Florida based System
> Builders for the alleged distribution of counterfeit product.
>
> Choice Distributors, Inc. (also against Robert J. Provost)
> United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida,
> Case No. 00-2852-CIV-GRAHAM
>
> Pentagon Information Systems, Corp. (also against Susana T. Marenzi
> and Jose L. Piedra)
> United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida,
> Case No.00-2926-CIV-MIDDLEBROOKS
>
> To protect your customers from purchasing pirated software and to protect
> your business from procuring or selling pirated product, take action
> immediately:
>
> 1. Acquire product from authorized distributors. When you work
> with a Microsoft
> OEM Distributor, you receive high-quality products and deliver them
> to your customers without all the problems of counterfeit software:
> missing drivers, missing documentation, potential business and financial
> consequences. If you are acquiring product from companies other than the
> 12 Authorized OEM Product Distributors, you run the risk of acquiring
> counterfeit product and passing along unlicensed software to your
> customers. Obtain the most up-to date OEM Distributor listing at:
> <http://www.microsoft.com/oem/main.htm>
>
>
> 2. Sell new PCs with preloaded system software. New PCs sold
> without preinstalled
> operating systems are useless until customers install system
> software themselves. Are you confident in your customers' expertise to
> pre-load the operating system? Are you willing to absorb the cost of a
> return when software is not properly loaded? By selling PCs with
> preloaded operating systems, you can avoid exposing customers and your own
> organization to the technical problems and financial consequences
> associated with deploying naked systems. System builder members can refer
> to the licensing tool at: <http://oem.microsoft.com/namerica/504550.asp>.
>
>
> 3. Understand and explain licensing options to your customers.
> Desk-Top operating systems can only be acquired bundled with a new PC or
> as a full package retail product. A new computer with a desktop operating
> system should include a Certificate of Authenticity. The original invoice
> and the COA attached to the computer chassis should be retained as proof
> of licensing. Licenses cannot be sold, transferred or removed from the
> particular computer to which they are assigned. Select, Open and retail
> programs offer upgrades only to existing desktop operating system
> licenses. For a copy of the OEM quick reference guide, email
> [email protected]. To assist customers with software compliancy,
> recommend self-audits by using tools at
> http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/samguide
>
> 4. Know the warning signs and report pirated product. The warning
> signs and general guidelines to Microsoft's product security features
> including hologram and COA technologies can be found at
> http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/howtotell. If you come across product
> that you think may be illegal due to irregular security features,
> incorrect channel packaging or suspiciously low pricing, send an email to
> [email protected] or call 1-800-RU Legit.
>
>
> 5. Use the AP Business Desk. If you are about to lose a large
> ($20,000+) bid to a reseller or system builder that is offering
> suspiciously low pricing on Microsoft software, send an e-mail with full
> details, including your name and number, to [email protected]
> <maimailto:[email protected]>, with a cc: to [email protected]
> <mailto:[email protected]>. Microsoft will take steps to ensure that
> your confidentiality is preserved.
>
> Anti-piracy Resources:
> System Builder Membership:
>
> www.bsa.org <http://www.bsa.org>
> <http://www.microsoft.com/oem/>
> http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/howtotell
>
SORRY FOR THE LONG POST,

Scotty please get back in, you are killing us by not updating. Lets buy Windrivers.com back

My purchasing office, has received several similar messages from MS about the various suits.I can understand Micro$oft'$ point with these recent spat of lawsuits, but scare tactics like this piss me off.
My company, as a M$ solution provider and Academic SW provider, is VERY scrupulous about observing liscensing. And my boss is very strict about what SW goes on what machine...call it paraniod but, I like my job! and the thought of a MS lawsuit...gah!!
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I get them too. i think you get them automatically if you are an oem. try the unsubscribe route. HOWEVER, i let them send them to me, because i saw one of my competitors being sued!!! Looked great printed up and on the wall of my shop. I could go on about MS forever, but one of the few things i like is when they nail someone selling puters without a coa. i ALWAYS include one and if i have to pay for the software i sure as heck want my competitors to pay.

I had a competitor that was caught cheating. A person (now my client) called me after getting a run around about not having the disks to reinstall office. I let him know that at the very least he had to have a COA with serial number. He called MS who came to his house with a warrant and confiscated his computer and all documentation (wait, done get all bent out of shape yet). Three days later a rep from MS came to his house with a brand new computer and a free copy of all the major MS apps! Nice happy ending. One happy customer and illegal competition shut down.

I too still get that stuff from MS , however , how the hell is the honest guy supposed to compete if the guy down the street is giving office 2000 away for free and the honest guy has to pay $400??

I love it when somebody rings me and wants me to re-load office or windows because they were never given the cd's. Especially when it is somebody who has bought elsewhere after I have given them a quote.

But I don't mind getting the notifications from Microsoft about who they are suing...it gives me a laugh when I'm eating lunch.

i recently quit a job in my area b/c of piracy. the owner of the company where i worked at and i got into an argument b/c he told me to burn office 2k premium, then sell it to a customer when he came to pick up his system (he had already burned windows 2k to sell to him). he told me he does it b/c he knows certain people will pay for it (ie, he can take rich people for their money while F#$%ing them).

i told him i wasnt taking part in that, to pay me, and i left. i called microsoft a week later to report this. its just really jacked, but im starting to see more and more people do this. i cant count the times he sold off old crappy computers just put together to sell as a cheap system, and loaded an OS on it and gave them no CD.

its this kind of stuff that makes the prices go up, which cause more piracy, which makes the prices go up, which....

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prompt$p$g [dos = elite]

About this whole MS thing, it will never end. Thanks to the internet, cheap people, and all kinds of other people, piracy will continue. Its just like hacking, people will design better ways to stop it, only to have a 14 year old to crack it because he wants it and has the time to steal it. And hey, I wouldnt mind being on that list, I would just love to see some of the companies busted for some of the crap they pull.

And....Did you know that when you read about MS busting someone it is because they have already been caught selling illegal copies TWICE before? Microsoft only prosecutes on the third offense. So, when you here on the news about "big bad MS"...and "how were we to know, etc. you can really enjoy a good belly laugh over someone elses poor misfortune....

I've been wondering when MS was gonna find out about choice distributors. they have some ridiculously low prices on microsoft software but it all looked legit to me plus they said it was so who am i to question.

i don't think i need to recieve e-mails like that, how do you think your customers would feel if you e-mailed them everytime someone voided their warranty, and at the end of the e-mail you said, better watch out, were gonna catch ya. well, i guess when you have a monopoly you don't have to worry about customer's feelings.

tony

again , these are supposed to be a courtesy to the honest system builer , to make sure we know we arent alone in the fight for legitimacy. And its not a voided warranty type issue, it's stealing. its actually stealing from YOU as a legit dealer. my first argument stands , how much does a 50 user license for NT cost? how the hell is your system going to compete with the guy thats just loading on there with a NFR copy?

Ya know boys and girls, all of you have a very good point. Mainly, with M$ going after the pirates, it will help protect the little guys from getting beat. On the other hand, how many times do you think the average consumer buys/gets an o/s or an upgrade, or other software, burns it and gives it away to all their friends - an so on and so on........?

You think the big culprits are the distributors, and other small businesses that are pirating and costing M$ money? Think again. That is part of it, but I will bet that more theft of software occurs in the home than in business. Whadaya think? All those CDRW are being sold and installed to get the napster trash? Yeah, right.....

As an OEM Builder I support M$ 100% although personally, I beleive that their product is WAAAAAAYYYYY overpriced. As far as sending the emails? Who cares, it gives them something to do and for me something to read. Besides, it's great when your competitor gets nailed for being stupid.



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Don't take life too seriously -- It isn't permanent

www.protechpc.com

I would be more supportive of Microsofts anti-piracy policy if I could get OS's & applications for the same price as Compaq or Dell. It costs me considerably more for the Operating System & Software than it costs "volume" manufacurers for the same OS & software. I pay more for the components also, due to lower volume. This has a created a business environment where it is almost impossible to compete against discount store fodder. I have pretty much discontinued selling systems & predominately perform repairs & upgrades along with integration & consultation.

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Dave Sparks,
Systems Support Analyst

Ya know boys and girls, all of you have a very good point. Mainly, with M$ going after the pirates, it will help protect the little guys from getting beat. On the other hand, how many times do you think the average consumer buys/gets an o/s or an upgrade, or other software, burns it and gives it away to all their friends - an so on and so on........?
You think the big culprits are the distributors, and other small businesses that are pirating and costing M$ money? Think again. That is part of it, but I will bet that more theft of software occurs in the home than in business. Whadaya think? All those CDRW are being sold and installed to get the napster trash? Yeah, right.....

You said it, the end users are the ones making copies for there friends. I do make my legal backup copy and us that so the original dosen't get lost. I never let any customers see it or next thing you know Bill will be knocking on my door. I don't need that, not that they would find anything on me but I don't have time to waste.