Monday, August 17th 2015
License Agreement Confusion Causes Misinformation over Windows 10 Overreach
Over the last weekend there's been quite some misinformation doing the rounds, stating that a license agreement you agreed to before upgrading to Windows 10, allows Microsoft to remotely disable pirated software (eg: games, apps). This may have caused fence-sitters on the Windows 10 upgrade to decide to stay on older platforms, and for some to even revert to their older Windows 7 installations. It turns out, that the situation has been grossly misread.
Microsoft Services EULA is the one which states that Microsoft may "prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware peripheral devices," however, this is not the license that governs your Windows installation. It only pertains to "Microsoft Services" (Windows Store content, Xbox Live, live tiles, etc.) The license governing Windows is the MSLT (Microsoft Software License Terms), and so there won't be a case of Microsoft reaching out to disable pirated software from running on Windows.
Source:
Windows Central
Microsoft Services EULA is the one which states that Microsoft may "prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware peripheral devices," however, this is not the license that governs your Windows installation. It only pertains to "Microsoft Services" (Windows Store content, Xbox Live, live tiles, etc.) The license governing Windows is the MSLT (Microsoft Software License Terms), and so there won't be a case of Microsoft reaching out to disable pirated software from running on Windows.
29 Comments on License Agreement Confusion Causes Misinformation over Windows 10 Overreach
This only allows Microsoft to say "see, it's mostly exaggeration, we're not really spying on you".
Also, haven't pirated a game for ~3 years. And I live in fucking Serbia...
With all due respect for techpowerup :)
Till then, my win 8.1 stays :)
For those of whom acquire their media through legitimate means not so much,....
So I'll say again. As the story was misinterpreted I can see how those misappropriating media would have been concerned,...with specificity.
The clarification: This seems more like an extension of Microsoft's concerns with respect to making sure Windows is genuine at least in terms of the agenda. I see nothing specific with respect to drivers here.
Having said that, one would think that third parties would want to get in on this as well if it proves to be an effective deterrent.
Overall I'm still not concerned though.
Not sure what you mean otherwise.
I've had several clients need these for various software packages, and at least half of them have had issues with them at one point or another, and until I get someone from their support team online, and in some cases, a replacement key in hand, they're dead in the water. Using legitimate software.
So many ppl complain about W10 and how your privacy is gone, look at Google, face book yadda yadda, Sorry to say but your privacy was gone long before W10 came out. Google knows more about you then you know about yourself ;)
Enjoy W10 and how smooth and fast it is. Gaming for me has shown a nice noticable improvement, I love to bench and yes its faster.. I however am still on the fence, but I have about 2 weeks to go back to 7 but ATM I love 10 and don't think I'll even look back..
Microsoft Windows 10 comes with yet another caveat. If you are running any pirated games or counterfeit software on your Windows 10 machine, then according to the latest addition to the End User Licence Agreement terms of conditions Microsoft has the power to remotely uninstall such software.
This statement was spotted by PC Authority in the EULA and lets Microsoft not only disable counterfeit software but also hardware. According to Section 7b or “Updates to the Services or Software, and Changes to These Terms,” part of the Microsoft Services end user license agreement (EULA) it states that, “Sometimes you’ll need software updates to keep using the Services. We may automatically check your version of the software and download software updates or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware peripheral devices. You may also be required to update the software to continue using the Services.”