Microsoft higher ups should've stepped in earlier on this one. This is clearly a case of a guy trying to do right and help out customers and not understanding h

Microsoft higher ups should've stepped in earlier on this one. This is clearly a case of a guy trying to do right and help out customers and not understanding how the law treats software and how that's different than hardware. They could've easily cut him a deal where he could hand out genuine Windows licenses with the sale of these devices. It is legal (mostly) for you to pick up a piece of hardware that somebody threw away and do anything you want with it. You can legally use it yourself, sell it or just give it away. In the eyes of the law, software doesn't work that way. Could you pick up a software license key that somebody threw away and re-use it? Depending on the license the original person purchased, likely not. It sucks, I don't agree with it but it's how it is.