MS (or anybody else) doesn't get to violate first sale doctrine[1] simply because they don't trust their customers. Once consideration has changed hands for a c

MS (or anybody else) doesn't get to violate first sale doctrine[1] simply because they don't trust their customers. Once consideration has changed hands for a copy of Windows, MS loses all control. The customer can do anything they want with their copy, except for a few areas covered by other laws (i.e. distributing another copy would make the customer liable for copyright infringement). If Microsoft is disabling a legitimately purchased copy of windows - or accessing it without the authorization of the owner - that could be a violation of the CFAA (or other laws; ask a lawyer). Trying to say the customer somehow authorized all of this by throwing a contract of adhesion at the customer after the purchase has been made is almost certainly not binding, and is explicitly illegal in some jurisdictions. It's patently not a contract as it lacks all of the required elements. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine