More customers than expected have chosen to validate their copy of Windows as genuine under Microsoft’s Genuine Windows antipiracy pilot program, and the validation process has created few problems, according to Microsoft. Consequently, Microsoft is expanding the pilot to cover additional downloads and languages and offering additional enticements to get users to participate. If the expanded pilot runs smoothly, Microsoft will likely move the program from pilot to production, meaning that only users of genuine copies of Windows will have access to services such as Microsoft's Web Download Center.

Initial Results

For the Genuine Windows pilot program, which started in Sept. 2004, users are asked to download and run an ActiveX control that validates that their copy of Windows is genuine before they download certain software applications, such as Windows Media players. Users of Windows XP who activated their software during installation, or whose software was activated with a legitimate license key, generally find validation with the ActiveX control to be automatic.

Because users could initially choose to not validate their copy of Windows and still get the download they wanted, and the number of downloads requesting voluntary validation was limited, Microsoft conservatively estimated that only 20,000 customers would opt in. This volume would allow Microsoft to ensure that the validation process worked and determine the volume of validation requests they could handle. In Oct. 2004, about a month into the pilot, Microsoft announced that approximately 828,000 customers had opted in and validated their copy of Windows.

The Genuine Windows program is just one part of Microsoft’s ongoing, multiphase antipiracy effort, which includes the activation of software during installation, a feature introduced with Office XP and Windows XP, and recent announcements of a less-costly Windows Starter Edition for certain countries. While the pilot has successfully handled the initial volumes, it is not clear if it is yet impacting Windows piracy.

Expanded Languages and Perks

In addition to starting conservatively, with only a few software applications requesting validation before they could be downloaded, the initial pilot was also limited to English language users of Windows. As of Oct. 2004, visitors to the Microsoft Download Center whose language is Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czechoslovakian, English, and Norwegian will have the opportunity to opt in to the genuine Windows pilot. As new languages are added to the program, they will begin, as the English program began, with only a few downloads that require Genuine Windows validation.

To entice even more users to validate their copy of Windows, Microsoft will also begin providing some exclusive downloads via the program. For example, for consumers to get the new version of Photo Story, a tool that allows users to add motion, effects, and music to their photos, they must have a genuine validated copy of Windows. Other enticements for English users include a Winter Fun Pack for Windows XP, which includes a seasonal desktop theme, and trial versions and discounts on selected MSN Games. To entice small businesses to take part in the pilot, Microsoft is offering a discount for the creation and use of a Microsoft-hosted Windows SharePoint site and access to Microsoft’s List Builder service, which can be used to create, deliver, and track personalized e-mail newsletters and announcements. Finally, Microsoft is extending the free evaluation period for Office OneNote to six months (from 60 days), if customers validate.

For other languages included in the pilot, the enticements will vary, but each language will have several offers. For example, a lunar calendar program written by Microsoft’s Research and Development center in Beijing will be offered for the Chinese languages.

Although Microsoft is expanding the number of downloads covered by the program, there is no move yet to restrict access to service packs, bug fixes, or security-related patches.

Resources

For a description of the validation program and process, see "Genuine Windows Targets Piracy" on page 10 of the Nov. 2004 Update.

Photo Story 3 is described in "Free Slideshow Program Available".

Users can validate their copy of Windows as genuine and download Photo Story 3 from www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx.

Why users should validate their copy of Windows is explained at www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/whyvalidate.aspx.

Additional details on the offers to entice users to validate Windows are available at www.microsoft.com/genuine/offers/default.aspx?displaylang=en.