Microsoft is cracking down on software pirates with a web-based initiative that will prevent users of counterfeit products from obtaining vital security patches and upgrades.
The vendor is extending its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) programme, launched as a pilot scheme last year to users of the English-language version of Windows. Users enter product codes on the WGA site to qualify for up to $450-worth of free software.
But if the codes show the software to be counterfeit, the user will continue to receive virus news updates but not qualify for patches and downloads.
Until now the scheme has been voluntary, but from 7 February the vendor is making it compulsory for users in Czech, Chinese and Norwegian languages. It plans to extend the compulsory scheme around the world later this year.
Alex Hilton, anti-piracy manager at Microsoft, said: "This is big for the channel because it's aimed at SMEs and home users. It's the first time we will be able to make customers fully understand whether they have been sold counterfeit products.
"It will enable us to identify the illegal supply chain and put a stop to it."
According to the British Software Alliance, software piracy in the UK costs the IT industry $1.6bn a year, and VARs are missing out on vital services revenue.
Mike Lawrence, managing director of VAR Bentpenny, welcomed the initiative. "Anything that helps to eliminate illegal software is a good thing," he said.
This move comes on the back of news last week that the software giant has filed a $7m law suit against a UK reseller, ITAC, alleging it has been selling 'parallel import' software to the channel.
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