Microsoft to Get Tough on License Dodgers 564
An anonymous reader writes "PC Advisor reports that Microsoft is going to start getting tough with certain small business customers. They are going to examine their small customer license database — any discrepancies and it will call you for an audit. If you refuse it will send in the BSA and the legal heavies. "
BSA? (Score:5, Funny)
It's about time ... (Score:2, Funny)
They should put more effort into cracking down those real business abusers who are making profit on the back of MS than the stupid broken WGA which annoys lots of innocent home users.
Bring 'em on.... (Score:1, Funny)
Bring 'em on.... Bitches.
Re:oh yeah (Score:3, Funny)
Microsoft would use tanks and heavy artillery instead of just the BSA - Boy Scouts of America [scouting.org]?
Re:So true (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Nope, they'll help sell you more licenses, too! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:In other news... (Score:1, Funny)
One more reason to go Linux (Score:4, Funny)
Oh the horror!
Last time I got in a tussle with the BSA. . . (Score:2, Funny)
Re:So true (Score:3, Funny)
A lawsuit works both ways. The plaintiff can become the defendant very easily if one is not careful.
Will they compensate? Doubt it. Do they compensate for massive worm/trojan outbreaks that cripple businesses from coast to coast as a result of using their software? Why would they compensate in this case then when the scale is much, much lower on the visibility radar?
Re:So true (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Gets Tough? (Score:5, Funny)
I still can't see what gives them the right to assume guilt until innocence is proven. They demand an audit based on their perception that you haven't bought enough of their software, and AFAICT they act as if this gives them a right to waste your time proving your innocence. Why on earth is software a special case here? It would be impossible to run a business if every industry sector behaved in the same way.
*knock knock*
"Hello?"
"We're from the Business Furniture Alliance, representing Office World, Staples, and several other major furniture retailers. According to our clients' records, you haven't purchased enough office desks to run a business of this size. We suspect you've been stealing your office furniture from one of our clients."
"Not that it's any of your business, but we got a local carpenter to run up some desks for us..."
"A likely tale. We're going to have to audit your furniture. I hope you have a few days free."
"Kindly bugger off and d-- hang on, who's that?"
"Good morning sir or madam, I'm from the Business Carpeting Alliance. Our records show that..."
Re:So true (Score:3, Funny)
It's not that hard to halve your cake and eat it, too.
Re:BSA? (Score:3, Funny)
BSA? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:So true (Score:4, Funny)
Actually, some of the atoms from the cake will be absorbed into your bloodstream and wind up distributed in various parts of your body, where they might stay for years (even until the end of your life).
A cake is more than just a mixture of certain ingredients, it's a structure. The moment you bite into it, the structure starts breaking down. So we can reduce this to a semantic problem: at which point in the breakdown process does the cake stop being a cake? I would argue that this happens when it's chewed up and swallowed, but it's hard to draw a clear line.
Buy me another cake and I'll tell you more on this subject.
Re:So true (Score:3, Funny)
None. They bring the sheriffs to handle that for them.
Re:So true (Score:3, Funny)
The Windows EULA.
(No, seriously -- that's the basis on which they claim their authority. The idea is that, by installing Windows, you agree to let them extor...err, "audit" you.)
Re:So true (Score:4, Funny)
It's a stupid saying. I've had my cake and ate it. Even after I ate it I still had it. Nobody made me cough it up. I still had my cake for a few more hours, then I blew it out my ass.
Then I didn't want it any more....
Re:One more reason to go Linux (Score:3, Funny)
Your sig is poorly designed.
Of course the Kitten doesn't have a microwave() method.
class Kitten : Meatbag
def sleep(box) end
end
class Microwave : Box
attr_accessor
def microwave(meatbag) end
end
Kittens are definately not procedural. Following rules is not part of the cats remit - at least not anything elses rules. I guess it could be argued that cats are weakly functional as they can kill rodents, but it has strong side effects including attacking your feet whilst your sleeping a leaving parts of dead rabbits/song birds on your pillow in your shoes which goes against the grain for purely functional langauges.