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Microsoft

Submission + - MS exec: Pirating software? Choose Microsoft

An anonymous reader writes: ArsTechnica is running a story regarding Microsoft's view that should software piracy occur, Microsoft's desire is that the pirated software be theirs, to potentially, in the future, convert users from the "dark side" into legit users who obtain licenses...

"At the Morgan Stanley Technology conference last week in San Francisco, Microsoft business group president Jeff Raikes commented on the benefits of software counterfeiting. 'If they're going to pirate somebody, we want it to be us rather than somebody else,' he said. 'We understand that in the long run the fundamental asset is the installed base of people who are using our products. What you hope to do over time is convert them to licensing the software.'"

Obviously Microsoft prefers the market to use their software even if it's pirated rather than the alternative to occur: the use of free software which threatens their dominance in the software market.
The Internet

Broadband Providers' Hidden Bandwidth Limits 443

An anonymous reader sends us to the Boston Globe for a story that will come as a surprise to few here: broadband suppliers will cut you off if you download too many bits. It tells the stories of several Comcast users who were warned — without specifics — that they were using "too much" bandwidth, then had their accounts summarily cancelled. Looking into the future: "...even if only a tiny fraction of customers are downloading enough to trigger the policy, that will probably change as more entertainment moves to the Internet."
Robotics

Submission + - South Korea preempts robot uprising

An anonymous reader writes: CBC News reports that South Korea is drafting robot standards to govern robot behaviour in years to come. From the article: "The government plans to set ethical guidelines concerning the roles and functions of robots as robots are expected to develop strong intelligence in the near future," the ministry said in a statement.

The Robot Ethics Charter will apparently be based on Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. Read the article here.

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