Microsoft Sues Comet Over Windows 'Piracy'

The_Safordian

First apologies if this is posted in the wrong area.

I just watched this, this morning and wondered what others thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DnWe3GxJ0U

From what I can make out Comet are being accused of piracy for making recovery CDs but these are for Laptops/Computers which have a valid Windows licence so surly Microsoft are pushing it a little ?

TakeThis

Comet don't have a leg on which to stand, as they sold these discs to their customers.

They are clearly hoping to limit the damage by stating their revenue over the period.

debitcardmayhem

The_Safordian wrote: »

First apologies if this is posted in the wrong area.

I just watched this, this morning and wondered what others thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DnWe3GxJ0U

From what I can make out Comet are being accused of piracy for making recovery CDs but these are for Laptops/Computers which have a valid Windows licence so surly Microsoft are pushing it a little ?

Not looked at it yet but i think you meant "surely Microsoft are being surly" :rotfl:

The_Safordian

TakeThis wrote: »

Comet don't have a leg on which to stand, as they sold these discs to their customers.

They are clearly hoping to limit the damage by stating their revenue over the period.

Have to admit the £14.99 was a little over the top £1.49 to cover costs maybe.

The thing is Microsoft themselves will offer you you a serial number if they suspect you have a "dodgy" copy for the one already installed so Pot Kettle comes to mind

spadoosh

The_Safordian wrote: »

Have to admit the £14.99 was a little over the top £1.49 to cover costs maybe.

The thing is Microsoft themselves will offer you you a serial number if they suspect you have a "dodgy" copy for the one already installed so Pot Kettle comes to mind

Didnt offer me one, informed them i might have legally bought 4 illegally produced copies of windows, the response, thanks for informing us, and my 4 dodgy copies are now placemats, circa £240 on four placemats!

TakeThis

The_Safordian wrote: »

Have to admit the £14.99 was a little over the top £1.49 to cover costs maybe.

The thing is Microsoft themselves will offer you you a serial number if they suspect you have a "dodgy" copy for the one already installed so Pot Kettle comes to mind

I think you aren't getting the point of it.

Comet made a nice little income stream for themselves by charging for a service that should have been free to the end user.

It may have been smarter to sell a setup service which included helping the customer create their Recovery Discs...or at least not explicitly charging for the Recovery Discs..

The_Safordian

spadoosh wrote: »

Didnt offer me one, informed them i might have legally bought 4 illegally produced copies of windows, the response, thanks for informing us, and my 4 dodgy copies are now placemats, circa £240 on four placemats!

No if your computer suddenly displays this


They will offer you the serial, at a cost of course.

Anyway these copies from Comet have valid licences, something Microsoft should have given anyway

The_Safordian

TakeThis wrote: »

It may have been smarter to sell a setup service which included helping the customer create their Recovery Discs...or at least not explicitly charging for the Recovery Discs..

Yes that sounds simple enough but working in I.T I know 99% of computer users are PEBKAC's and so its not that easy talking them through it.

If you've ever watched I.T Crowd you'd be surprised how much of that is true

The_Safordian

Also of those in the know who'd rather have a fresh install rather than a backup

TakeThis

The_Safordian wrote: »

No if your computer suddenly displays this


They will offer you the serial, at a cost of course.

Anyway these copies from Comet have valid licences, something Microsoft should have given anyway

The argument is not about a valid licence, but Comet selling the media.

The_Safordian

TakeThis wrote: »

The argument is not about a valid licence, but Comet selling the media.

Yes I understand that but then again the media is already paid for.

I bought a second hand Notebook last year but I wanted to format the HDD for a fresh install. Now as you know there are no cds but the Notebook did have a valid Windows Licence so I had to download a OEM copy of XP and use an app to make a bootable USB install.

Now some might say this was piracy but I have a valid Windows XP licence