Microsoft adds anti-piracy terms to EULA and may disable unauthorised software and hardware.
71 replies, posted
[QUOTE]Microsoft has come under fire for changes to its End User Licence Agreement (EULA), brought in at the start of the month, which warn users that they may find unauthorised software and hardware automatically disabled.
A change to the Microsoft Services Agreement sets out the company's new policy. 'Sometimes you’ll need software updates to keep using the Services. We may automatically check your version of the software and download software updates or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorised hardware peripheral devices,' the revised Section 7(b) reads. 'You may also be required to update the software to continue using the Services.'
While vaguely worded, the intention appears to be to give Microsoft carte blanche to push out software updates which block the use of pirated software on its operating system, a move which it likely hopes will both ingratiate itself to third-party companies while also protecting its cash-cow product lines like Microsoft Office. The warning that 'unauthorised hardware peripheral devices' may also be rendered unusable by updates is a little less clear in its intentions, but gives Microsoft considerable leeway in how it addresses devices it would rather not have associated with its operating system[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.bit-tech.net/news/bits/2015/08/14/microsoft-anti-piracy/1[/url]
I'm sure this will be patched out pretty fast.
Imagine the shitstorm if this disables people from being able to play anything but the newest version of minecraft, since the version that people use for mods is usually one or two behind the current one.
I wonder what unauthorized hardware devices they could be talking about as justification for adding a kill switch option to the EULA?
I mean, piracy is a no-brainer and Microsoft would like to minimize it, but what hardware? That's what I don't like.
So, more stuff making Windows less open and more Microsoft controlled?
The blocking pirated software is one thing but "unauthorised hardware peripheral devices" sounds like it could be sketchy.
[editline]14th August 2015[/editline]
Also requirement for updates is a real pain.
Right, they can't even reliably check whether the installation of their own OS is legit or not (assuming an activator or loader is used), there's no way they'll be able to check for pirated games
[QUOTE=llamaliker;48456431]So, more stuff making Windows less open and more Microsoft controlled?
The blocking pirated software is one thing but "unauthorised hardware peripheral devices" sounds like it could be sketchy.[/QUOTE]
Apple already does it to a degree and it sucks.
Can't use any PCIe USB 3.0 adapter from china. You gotta buy from a "certified" vendor who is selling you the same fucking card with a massive markup. They had that bullshit a year back where they stopped enabling TRIM support on non-apple SSD's.
[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;48456430]I wonder what unauthorized hardware devices they could be talking about as justification for adding a kill switch option to the EULA?
I mean, piracy is a no-brainer and Microsoft would like to minimize it, but what hardware? That's what I don't like.[/QUOTE]
Maybe Chinese ripoff Windows Phones, or game controllers that pretend to be an Xbox controller
[QUOTE=Thunderbolt;48456439]Maybe Chinese ripoff Windows Phones, or game controllers that pretend to be an Xbox controller[/QUOTE]
IE competition
[QUOTE=Thunderbolt;48456439]Maybe Chinese ripoff Windows Phones, or game controllers that pretend to be an Xbox controller[/QUOTE]
Well, they sure do work as they are supposed to?
[QUOTE=Thunderbolt;48456439]Maybe Chinese ripoff Windows Phones, or game controllers that pretend to be an Xbox controller[/QUOTE]That's bs. Especially in case of controllers.
[QUOTE=Thunderbolt;48456435]Right, they can't even reliably check whether the installation of their own OS is legit or not (assuming an activator or loader is used), there's no way they'll be able to check for pirated games[/QUOTE]
Even if there is, seems like it's just another "wall" which alongside the pirated products themselves will most likely just be cracked
[QUOTE=proch;48456504]Even if there is, seems like it's just another "wall" which alongside the pirated products themselves will most likely just be cracked[/QUOTE]
The people that will actually go find a crack represent a tiny fraction of a percentage of Microsoft's customer base. The people they're targeting with these policies are typical users who might get pirated software from a friend or knockoff hardware from the Internet and probably won't go to the ends of the earth to find a workaround if it doesn't function out of the box.
They release Windows 10, then they do this. Just pushes people towards Linux if Windows is going to become the new anti-piracy platform...
[QUOTE=Boilrig;48456563]They release Windows 10, then they do this. Just pushes people towards Linux if Windows is going to become the new anti-piracy platform...[/QUOTE]
Linux? Why? There's nothing to pirate on linux.
[QUOTE=itisjuly;48456577]Linux? Why? There's nothing to pirate on linux.[/QUOTE]
Really? Do you think every piece of software becomes free automagically when you use a Linux distro?
[QUOTE=vercas;48456592]Really? Do you think every piece of software becomes free automagically when you use a Linux distro?[/QUOTE]
No, I just think that most software that is pirated on windows doesn't exist on Linux. Seriously if this anti-piracy thing is more or less successful, more developers will keep windows only versions, forcing people to stay on windows. Linux already has little support. This has the potential to cripple the progress software has been making lately.
[QUOTE=itisjuly;48456606]No, I just think that most software that is pirated on windows doesn't exist on Linux. Seriously if this anti-piracy thing is more or less successful, more developers will keep windows only versions, forcing people to stay on windows. Linux already has little support. This has the potential to cripple the progress software has been making lately.[/QUOTE]
You can run Windows programs in Wine to circumvent any Windows restrictions on pirated software.
[QUOTE=itisjuly;48456606]No, I just think that most software that is pirated on windows doesn't exist on Linux. Seriously if this anti-piracy thing is more or less successful, more developers will keep windows only versions, forcing people to stay on windows. Linux already has little support. This has the potential to cripple the progress software has been making lately.[/QUOTE]
Pretty much every major application/service supports Linux to a degree.
Including Steam, with hundreds of games.
Oh, and there's GOG selling old games with extraordinary compatibility/emulation layers.
[QUOTE=Snickerdoodle;48456608]You can run Windows programs in Wine to circumvent any Windows restrictions on pirated software.[/QUOTE]
If only it worked for the more interesting software... Sadly, it lacks dozens of frequently-used Windows services. :(
... Which are illegal and/or impractical to port. :buckteeth:
[QUOTE=vercas;48456620]
If only it worked for the more interesting software... Sadly, it lacks dozens of frequently-used Windows services. :(
... Which are illegal and/or impractical to port. :buckteeth:[/QUOTE]
What kind of "more interesting software" do you refer to?
[QUOTE=vercas;48456620]Pretty much every major application/service supports Linux to a degree.
Including Steam, with hundreds of games.
Oh, and there's GOG selling old games with extraordinary compatibility/emulation layers.
[/QUOTE]
It really depends as to what you use your pc for. None of the games I play work on linux and neither do any apps I care about (photoshop, 3ds max...). Sure, I could fiddle with wine but really do I want to when I can just natively run them on an os they officially support.
If you mainly play old/indie games, then linux is fine. But I personally do not wish to deal with "supports to a degree", I only want "supports fully".
[QUOTE=Snickerdoodle;48456633]What kind of "more interesting software" do you refer to?[/QUOTE]
Visual Studio, WPF applications.
Also, DirectX (HLSL) shader support in Wine is quite bad, especially the compiler component. :(
[QUOTE=itisjuly;48456646]It really depends as to what you use your pc for. None of the games I play work on linux and neither do any apps I care about (photoshop, 3ds max...). Sure, I could fiddle with wine but really do I want to when I can just natively run them on an os they officially support.
If you mainly play old/indie games, then linux is fine. But I personally do not wish to deal with "supports to a degree", I only want "supports fully".[/QUOTE]
Precisely the reason why I use Windows too.
[QUOTE=Snickerdoodle;48456608]You can run Windows programs in Wine to circumvent any Windows restrictions on pirated software.[/QUOTE]
If the Wine website is correct, it doesn't even fully support DirectX 10, that means you won't be able to play almost any new games, or have to deal with shit graphics if the game lets you play in DX9 mode.
[QUOTE=Thunderbolt;48456439]Maybe Chinese ripoff Windows Phones, or game controllers that pretend to be an Xbox controller[/QUOTE]
I don't see how they could detect something like that (the fake controllers) as they report to windows that they are xbox controllers (by the PCI vendor/product id).
Damn this is horrible. Most of the app is cost very expensive in my country (because the fucking inflation in my country)
Looks like they really are locking down the system more and more, seeing how the article not only mentions software, but also "unauthorized hardware". Sounds like exactly the type of control Gabe Newell worried about when he saw Win8, tho I guess we're not quite in "for the safety of our customers, we only allow Microsoft-certified hardware to be plugged in" territory yet.
[QUOTE=Amiga OS;48457022]"I told you so" - Richard Stallman[/QUOTE]
Maybe this is all a ploy and Microsoft is actually about to go full Stallman. Microsoft is good at misdirection... and making decisions that make no sense.
[QUOTE=Levelog;48457046]full Stallman[/QUOTE]
I don't know why but I always laugh when I hear this.
I can just imagine some fictional FSF vs Microsoft mediaeval battle and the GNU side constantly shouts "FULL STALLMAN"
[QUOTE=Thunderbolt;48456683]If the Wine website is correct, it doesn't even fully support DirectX 10, that means you won't be able to play almost any new games, or have to deal with shit graphics if the game lets you play in DX9 mode.[/QUOTE]
There's increasing number of games that release with native or semi-native (pre-packed emulation basically), Dying Light, Shadow of Mordor to name just two relatively recent ones, anything that comes from Valve, significant portion of what releases on Unity3D...
Nobody is saying "everyone will move to Linux tomorrow", but there is already nearly [B]1200[/B] functional Linux games on steam, and the pace with which they release is still increasing.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;48457177]There's increasing number of games that release with native or semi-native (pre-packed emulation basically), Dying Light, Shadow of Mordor to name just two relatively recent ones, anything that comes from Valve, significant portion of what releases on Unity3D...
Nobody is saying "everyone will move to Linux tomorrow", but there is already nearly [B]1200[/B] functional Linux games on steam, and the pace with which they release is still increasing.[/QUOTE]
Yeah but most of those 1200 games are small indie games that would probably run just as well in Wine, it's the big titles that are the problem. Out of all the games I'm looking forward to this year (MGS5, XCOM2, Just Cause 3 and Fallout 4), only XCOM2 will see a Linux release, right now using Linux for gaming is generally a bad idea because it means you're gonna have to give up a ton of new titles, and I somehow doubt that's gonna change anytime soon because devs just can't be bothered porting a game to multiple operating systems, it's not a big enough market.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.