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> But that means torrents of Windows are freeware! For many, many years now, if you need Windows you can just download it from Microsoft and run simple, non-in
by scotty79 2y ago
> But that means torrents of Windows are freeware!
For many, many years now, if you need Windows you can just download it from Microsoft and run simple, non-intrusive activation procedure (not from Microsoft) after installation. No cracks needed. As much security as hip high front porch gate.
So even for MS the understanding was that these things are de facto freeware for anyone that wants them at all.
- lucianbr 2y agoConveniently ignoring that you may be sued into oblivion if you have enough money to make it worth it for them. Come on. Windows is only free for people not making significant amounts of money with it. If you do make money... surprise: https://www.bsa.org/ https://www.bsa.org/
- scotty79 2y agoWhy would I care about rich people problems that try to get ahead without paying others they use to get ahead? Laws are never the same for the rich and the poor. And if they are to differ then it's the better direction for them to differ.
- lucianbr 2y agoYour assertion that Microsoft allows everyone to use Windows for free is false. What you care or not care about is irrelevant in this context. I have no clue why you brought it up. Now if you wish to assert that Microsoft allows peons to use Windows for free, as long as it is convenient for them, I can agree with that. They're still a bunch of hypocrites. Allowing Microsoft to selectively apply the law as it benefits them is not a good thing, you're confused.
- scotty79 2y agoIf you do not allow people to do something and yet hundreds of millions of people on Earth do it and you do as much as I described to prevent it then you are de facto allowing it. Same thing the MS guy said. Whatever's published on a website is de facto freeware. "no copyright infringement intended". That's how it works outside of lawyers offices. Commercial policy is not the law so MS can be as hypocritical as they want. I'm happy that their hypocrisy is going in the right direction this time.
- still_grokking 2y agoExcellent trolling! Funny thread.
- jsheard 2y agoFeel free to start a business selling computers with pirated copies of Windows and Office pre-installed, or build out a corporate network or cloud service with them, and find out first-hand how much Microsoft really considers their products to be "de-facto freeware".
- scotty79 2y agoWhy would I be selling stuff I got for free? It's unethical. Installing software on a computer is not "transformative". Training AI is very much.
- rchaud 2y agoOpenAI/Microsoft are building a business around stuff they got for free. That is the whole point of the above comment.
- scotty79 2y agoNot quite. They are trying to build a business around AI and that they spent heaps of money to build and train. The free stuff serves the same purpose it does for all people on the planet, as examples of things that exist.
- jorams 2y ago> run simple, non-intrusive activation procedure (not from Microsoft) > No cracks needed. These are contradictory statements, and I'm not sure why you'd think otherwise.
- scotty79 2y agoSimple. I just define crack as potentially dangerous program that you have to give full access to your machine so it can do it's job. Instead it's sufficient to use normal MS activation procedure with a server that always says, sure, you can activate. Because why not.