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Microsoft Extends Anti-Piracy Features in Office 2000
Technology in International and Academic Versions of Office 2000
Simplifies Registration and Helps Thwart Piracy
REDMOND, Wash. - Dec. 9, 1998 - - With the release of Microsoft®
Office 2000, Microsoft Corp. is expanding an already successful anti-piracy pilot program
to several countries to help reduce piracy and simplify registration so customers can get
the most value from their Office investment.
In Office 2000, Microsoft will include the Registration Wizard, a new easy-to-use
technology that improves on previous industry methods to discourage piracy. The Office
Registration Wizard will be included in versions of Office 2000 offered in Australia,
Brazil and New Zealand, as well as in academic packages distributed in the United States
and Canada. This technology is designed for full-package products in these markets and
will not be included in products obtained by customers with volume license agreements, due
to their unique deployment processes.
In addition to automating registration, Office 2000 will include a hologram on the CD
to help customers identify the authenticity of the Office product. Microsoft will also
introduce a new type of in-box packaging to prevent thieves from easily removing the CD
from the box in retail stores.
Software piracy, the illegal copying and distribution of software, takes a toll on the
global economy and adversely affects software companies, resellers and customers
throughout the world. According to a study conducted by International Planning and
Research (IPR), commissioned by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) and the Software
Publishers Association (SPA), software piracy caused the loss of more than 600,000 jobs
and $11.4 billion in revenue worldwide in 1997. In addition, honest resellers frequently
lose business to competitors that deliver systems with pirated software applications
installed. And consumers who acquire pirated products could find they are missing key
elements, such as user manuals and product identifications, Certificates of Authenticity
and even software code.
"Four out of every 10 software applications worldwide were stolen in 1997, causing
the loss of jobs, wages and tax revenues from the software industry and harming
unsuspecting customers," said Bob Kruger, vice president of enforcement at the
Business Software Alliance, the voice of the world's leading software developers before
governments and with consumers in the international marketplace. "We believe that
technical innovation by the industry is an important component of the battle against
software piracy."
"Software piracy is a significant problem for the entire industry. We are
launching this registration approach because no effective technology exists today to
validate licensing," said Jon DeVaan, vice president of the desktop applications
division at Microsoft. "We believe that to do it effectively, it's extremely
important to provide a customer-friendly approach."
The Registration Wizard technology has been successfully tested over the past six
months in full-package versions of Office 97 Small Business Edition and Publisher 98 in
Brazil, as well as in Office 2000 beta 1. Customer feedback from these tests has indicated
that the Registration Wizard did not interfere with the ease of use of Office.
The Registration Wizard is a user-friendly technology in Office 2000 that makes
registration a natural part of installing the product and helps prevent illegal
installations. Customers can use the product 50 times before registration is required.
Registration simply involves customers providing the name of the country in which they
reside; an automatically generated installation ID number confirms registration. Users are
not required to provide personal information and can register anonymously. Customers can
register via e-mail, the Internet, postal mail, fax or telephone. In accordance with the
Microsoft End-User License Agreement, customers can install a copy of Office on a single
computer, then install a second copy for exclusive use on a portable computer.
Installations on additional computers that violate the License Agreement will not qualify
for registration. The Registration Wizard will allow routine changes in hardware so that
users can upgrade their computer without having to reregister.
In addition to helping reduce piracy, the Office Registration Wizard will help
customers get more value from their investment in Office. Users are asked, but not
required, to supply additional information to help Microsoft maintain its registered user
database. Microsoft frequently offers Office users free updates, service releases and
other useful information, and complete registration will allow customers to proactively
receive these benefits.
Customers or resellers with questions about the legitimacy of Microsoft products should
contact the Microsoft anti-piracy hot line, toll free, at (800) RU-LEGIT (785-3448), send
e-mail to piracy@microsoft.com, or visit the Web site, at http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/. Customers
and resellers can also obtain information about software piracy by calling the Business
Software Alliance anti-piracy hot line at (888) NO-PIRACY (667-4722) or sending e-mail to
software@bsa.org.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services
for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more
enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the
United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names herein may be
trademarks of their respective owners.
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