Ben Reid
26 Oct 2006 14:37
Microsoft's Office software suite looks set to become subject to compulsory piracy checks.
The software maker announced today that the Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) program - similar to the company's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program, which checks for counterfeit or pirated versions of the Windows Operating System - will require obligatory validation of Office software on Friday. And from then on, any Office Online templates downloaded from within the Office 2007 Suite will be subject to validation of legitimacy.
Additionally, as of January '07, those who use Office Update will be required to validate that their Office software is legit before they can proceed with the service
Microsoft, which claims the process will be "quick and simple" for users, has stepped-up efforts in recent years in attempts to prevent its products from being pirated. It has had some minimal success in places, but has angered many users - with some in the past having their legally-acquired software wrongly tagged as illegitimate due to bugs in the system.
Source:
InfoWorld