Source www.microscope.co.uk
By Karl Flinders
29th November 2004
Microscope
Customers that bought XP installed on a PC before 1 November are being offered the opportunity to have the software checked out and replaced if illegal.
Alex Hilton, licensing compliance group manager at Microsoft, said: "We have a great relationship with the big OEMs, but this is more at the white box end of the market where products are sold as cheap as possible.
"Microsoft will not prosecute the customers but wants to get to the source of the products.
"If the products are counterfeit we will replace them free of charge," he added. "Customers must bring a proof of purchase and a signed witness statement saying where they bought the product."
The information will help the vendor uncover the people selling illegal software.
Hilton said this would be good for the channel as it would level the playing field.
"Many of our partners come to us and tell us that people are selling the products below the distribution price," he pointed out.
Nathan Still, marketing manager at Compusys, said there was an increasing amount of illegal software being sold through the white box channel.
"We have found that with increasing competition and the margin squeeze people are being unscrupulous and cutting corners," he added.
"It can be frustrating because they are selling the products at such a low price."
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