Vista Pirates

[Guest]

Recently, I've noticed some people on here who have 5472 & 5536, who are not
technet members, hence pirates. I'm alittle surprised that people who pirate
Vista have the intelligence (or lack thereof) to post here; asking for help
on a Microsoft created newsgroup.

I know most of you will say "So what? It's a beta release". Non-the-less, a
pirate is a pirate, right? Now we all know that Microsoft isn't loosing any
money from pirated betas, and the people who ask for support for it, from us.
But isn't right, right; and wrong, wrong?

I guess I'll be more careful about answering questions here.

 

[Rob Wilkens]

They're probably a little more intelligent (Speaking as a reformed pirate
from the early 1990's/late 1980s). Someone said directly that there's
nothing microsoft can do legally. And these people are doing it without
shelling out the $350 to be a Technet member (that's really all it takes,
intelligence is optional)..

The day "click to agree to a license" locks you in to a contract agreement
is the day I say "ooooooooookay" and stop using computers altogether (maybe
switch 100% to free software/linux) because the last time I read a microsoft
license agreement (we're talking 5 years ago) half of it (the bottom half)
is in another language (I think french canadian) and I don't know how I can
agree to a license in a language I can't understand. ON top of that, over
the last ten year I've grown habituated to 'click agree to install' knowing
it really means nothing because legally, it can't (I remember a joke I read
in one of the freebie mags : "Burried deep in a license agreement : By
clicking Accept you agree to become Bill Gates' personal slave."). The idea
of a shrinkwrap license agreement is silly -- I say when you buy something
you can do what you want with it so long as it's not physically/mentally
harmful to others.

The only "license limitation" is the Number of copies they'll let you
install before requiring activation to stop you. I honestly question the
legality of product activation. Imagine GE selling a light bulb and saying
you can use it in ANY compatible lamp, but if you decide to put it in
another lamp after the first one you put it in, it won't work.

-Rob

<DIV>&quot;M@dhat3rr&quot; &lt;[email protected]&gt; wrote

 

[Guest]

Rob, when you click 'I Agree' you are, in fact, signing a legal contract. Why
do you think a EULA exists? Just to have a txt file with a bunch of words?
The only reason why Microsoft couldn't go after people is the ISPs won't give
out the information associated with the IP. That and Microsoft, I don't
think, has any idea how XP, 2000, Server 2003, Office, etc. etc. is
distributed illegally. I tried to talk to Microsoft's anti-pirating ward,
back in March I think, and the person had no... I mean NO idea what I was
talking about. I was using terms like 'Beta build 5308', 'ISO', 'trackers',
etc. and the woman was dumb-founded; claiming I don't know what that is.....
for christs sake, she was working in the anti-piracy division! About the only
thing she did understand was 'eBay'. I tell you, MS has some real idiots
working anti-piracy.

Here's an idea: associate a PK, with a MSDN, TechNet, TAP, or connect user.
Use the PK to see who is leaking the images.... wow, I must be a genius.

Considering that these pirates are posting on a Microsoft NG, shows
something. So a person steals a beta build from Microsoft and posts on a
Microsoft NG...mmmm.

But yes, a EULA is a legally binding contract.

 

[microfox]

The day "click to agree to a license" locks you in to a contract
agreement is the day I say "ooooooooookay" and stop using computers
altogether (maybe switch 100% to free software/linux) because the last
time I read a microsoft license agreement (we're talking 5 years ago)
half of it (the bottom half) is in another language (I think french
canadian)

There's no such thing as a French Canadian language. French is French.
There are differences between the French Canadian and the French
keyboards. Mostly QWERTY vs AZERTY.

 

[Guest]

Amazing the accusations that fly off these boards. This build was available
to anyone who attended the BlackHat in Las Vegas and they were also given
away on the Vista Security Blog:

Tuesday, August 08, 2006 9:00 AM by windowsvistasecurity
Flash Swag: Windows Vista Build 5472 DVD
We have reached our limit. All the DVDs are gone. If you do not receive one
you were not one of the first 75 people or you did not provide your shipping
address. We hope to do more giveaways in the future so stay tuned.

Hi, I’m Alex Heaton, a product manager on the Windows Vista security team
and the keeper of the blog. My focus is User Account Control, and I was one
of the people passing out the Windows Vista DVDs at Black Hat. We have a few
DVDs of the new Windows Vista July EDW build (5472) left, and we want to
share the rest of them with our blog readers. The first 75 people who send
e-mail to [deleted] with your mailing address can get a DVD and product
registration key. These copies expire May 31, 2007. We will not use your
contact information for any other purpose and will delete all e-mails as soon
as the DVDs are distributed. If you already have access to this build through
one of the beta programs, please don’t request one of these DVDs so that
someone else can get one.

Thanks to everyone for reading and for your comments.

- Alex

(Comments now disabled for this post. No more DVD's are available.)

 

[Guest]

I've noticed the same thing, but I wasn't going to say anything about it.
There are many people that simply can't afford a Technet or MSDN subscription
(myself included). Fortunately, Connect is free if you can get an invite.

 

[Rob Wilkens]

To End Users???

Seriously, when I kill someone in other programs (video games) am I
committing felony homicide? Why is clicking something in an install process
any different?

-Rob

<DIV>&quot;M@dhat3rr&quot; &lt;[email protected]&gt; wrote
in message Rob, when you click 'I Agree' you are, in fact, signing a legal contract.
Why

 

[Daphne Foldes]

Hello

I see that you are posting via Videotron from Quebec. Therefore you should know that there is quite a bit of difference between the 2 French languages. Although both are French the difference in composition and pronunciation and meaning differ in a lot of areas.

As one example as below

French from France you call Grapefruit as Grapefruit
In Canadian French grapefruit is Pamplemouse.

Quite a difference I would say as is many others

Bye

 

[Daphne Foldes]

Hello

You also forgot MSDN among others. (vbs)

 

[Dan]

Recently, I've noticed some people on here who have 5472 & 5536, who are
not
technet members, hence pirates. I'm alittle surprised that people who
pirate
Vista have the intelligence (or lack thereof) to post here; asking for
help
on a Microsoft created newsgroup.

I know most of you will say "So what? It's a beta release". Non-the-less,
a
pirate is a pirate, right? Now we all know that Microsoft isn't loosing
any
money from pirated betas, and the people who ask for support for it, from
us.
But isn't right, right; and wrong, wrong?

I guess I'll be more careful about answering questions here.

I don't know if I'm one of the ones you are talking about but perhaps you
should be a bit more careful with your accusations. I was added to the beta
list by one of my users who happened to be a Microsoft employee. The
nomination was approved and I was invited to register on the Connect beta
site. That's how I got access to 5536. I'm no pirate.

 

[Guest]

I DO know that he is calling me one.

Madhatter,

You better do some research before accusing people of being something that
they are not..

What is WRONG is your attitude for people directed to this site by Microsoft
for help with their beta. You are breaking the Rules of Conduct for this site.

 

[Michael Cecil]

What is WRONG is your attitude for people directed to this site by Microsoft
for help with their beta. You are breaking the Rules of Conduct for this site.

This isn't a "site". It's the big, bad USENET. The first rule of USENET
is to grow a thick skin and ignore the trolls. Oh wait, I guess that's
two rules.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

While I may suspect some may have pirated copies, I will not state so since
insufficient evidence is here to make such an accusation.
Your assumption assumes limited sources for Microsoft Beta products.
Myself, I have received Vista Beta legitimately through 4 different sources
within Microsoft and all 4 are independent of the others.
BTW, I am not a Tech Net subscriber.

Be careful what you assume.
We all know what assume means.

 

[Guest]

Windows Vista Build 5472 is indeed Available to both MSDN Subscriber
Download's and Tech Net Plus Subscriber Download's, Just FYI.

I have previously used the MSDN Subscriber Download's Version of Build 5472,
and I Am Not a Windows Vista Pirate, Just FYI!

You really should make sure that you have all your information correct
before you Post, just fyi. Post Will be Rated Not Use Full.

 

[Guest]

I have pretty thick skin. However, when someone makes such accusations about
someone and then nobody on here will address their issue (OCX Error) on the
newgroup, that's when it is wrong.

I too received 3 different betas from 3 different beta sources, all within
Microsoft.

The same thing happened to me on another board when I stated that one my
betas could only be installed on one PC because it was a different Visa Beta
2 Program (Windows Feedback Panel). I had people coming out of the woodwork
to tell me that I was lying about the beta.

 

[Guest]

I'm not talking about people who recieved any build legally; blackhat, tap,
msdn, technet... or any other MS program or conference etc. What I am talking
about are people who download Vista from torrents, IRC, and usenet. I give
up. When the SA image gets leaked sometime around December or January, I
won't say a word. Since I'm a troll, I'll just take my hidious self under the
bridge. I'll just let MS handle leaks, getting called a troll and getting
flamed just ain't worth it.

 

[Chad Harris]

How would you know whether they're members of Technet, the Playboy Club, or
ACLU? As to Technet membership or MSDN membership, people in their right
mind would be joining them for their overall benefits not for some one time
access to a few systemically flawed interim builds of a broken OS far short
of its ideals projected a couple years ago. on its way out the door anyway.

CH

 

[Dan]

I'm not talking about people who recieved any build legally; blackhat,
tap,
msdn, technet... or any other MS program or conference etc. What I am
talking
about are people who download Vista from torrents, IRC, and usenet.

And you said that all of us who aren't TechNet members are those people you
are talking about. To quote you:
"Recently, I've noticed some people on here who have 5472 & 5536, who are
not technet members, hence pirates."

I'm not a TechNet member thus your statement accuses me of being a pirate.
Presumably since I'm not a TechNet member I must be one of those miscreants
who downloaded " from torrents, IRC, and usenet."

I give up.

Best that you do. Your statement "I guess I'll be more careful about
answering questions here" encourages others to make the same bad assumption
about beta testers who aren't TechNet members and act accordingly. Ever
heard of "throwing the baby out with the bath water"?

 

[Chad Harris]

Does it require intelligence to post here? And what is that? How do you
know questions about 5472 and 5536 aren't framed in the context of having
read about them on webzines and the people wanting to stay current? And many
of us post here "giving help" with about 99/100 of our messages--oh yeah or
seeking to critque features and pitfalls in each build so people will have a
heads up. I guess I'm missing the point. The whole Beta is part of a sales
campaing since they long ago gave up on fixing many key components of Viata
and dropped numerous features or began playng symantic shell games with
support of High Definition playback.


How ludicrous to join Technet or MSDN for several hundred bucks to buy a
sloppy Beta interim build or two?

What you could become a member of is the Church Lady/Ed Grimsely society and
how do you know again who is a member of Technet or whatever.

They "rock" to quote the MSFT synchophant mantra that jumps up and down
every time they change the name of the build but not the basic features or
bugs as in 5384 >>>on the march to 5536.16385 foreplay to RC1."

CH

 

[Chad Harris]

It's not who they have for lawyers in the Deputy General Counsel Nancy
Anderson's office who handle real piracy issues--Vista Beta doesn't fit a
legal definition or criteria you'll ever see litigation on in this vein.

It's who they have on the teams making the OS I'd worry about as to
competence and fixing bugs. It's the ones forcing them to boot a half
finished OS to RTM come October 25 or so I'd worry about.

CH