Is it illegal for an individual to use the OEM version of Windows 7? Microsoft is accused by the media

Introduction: The US media published an article today, analyzing the information provided by the Microsoft website about the OEM version of Windows 7, and called on Microsoft to allow users to legally use the OEM version of the Windows 7 operating system.

Personal use of the OEM version of the illegal

If Microsoft wants users to take the Windows license agreement seriously, the terms of the license agreement should be explained to the user in a clear and unambiguous manner. Unfortunately, Microsoft's work in this area is not doing well.

Many online shopping sites currently offer OEM System Builder licenses. Due to the low price, this licensing agreement is very attractive to users. In the case of this type of authorization, in addition to the inability to upgrade, the Windows 7 system can achieve almost all functions of the general retail version.

A number of users have purchased this OEM System Builder license, and they are satisfied with the convenience of using this license. However, according to Microsoft, such users have violated the terms of the OEM System Builder license agreement. The terms of the agreement show that the user must resell the PC to a third party after installing the OEM pre-packaged package. If a user installs an OEM pre-package on their computer, Microsoft does not consider Windows 7 to be "genuine."

However, Microsoft allows any online retailer to sell OEM System Builder software without mentioning the terms and conditions of use of the software. Microsoft believes that consumers should read the instructions printed on the software packaging before using it.

Microsoft's Web site

Microsoft previously allowed Windows enthusiasts to use cheap OEM System Builder software for personal purposes, which Microsoft clearly stated in a document last year. However, this document does not currently exist. In the past two years, some people inside Microsoft are clearing this document on purpose and systematically, and only some versions of other languages ​​are still visible. Microsoft has integrated information about the OEM version of Windows into the OEM Partner Center and is trying to prevent users from purchasing and using this version of the system.

Microsoft has said that it will work with online retailers to provide users with the authorization rules for OEM System Builder software. When users searched for a single 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate in a Bing shopping search, 21 sites sold the version of Windows, ranging in price from $169.53 to $237.59. Users can also receive up to 7% discount through Bing's search for cashback items.

Surprisingly, these sites sell OEM System Builder software. When the user searches through Bing for Windows 7 Ultimate with full license, nothing will be found. With Bing, users can only find upgrade packages and OEM software, and neither can be legally installed on newly purchased home computers. However, when searching through Google, you will see 138 dealers selling full-licensed Windows 7, with a minimum price of $280.92.

After the user clicked on the search results provided by Bing, there was no information about the Microsoft license agreement on the websites ZipZoomfly.com, CompUSA.com, TigerDirect and CompSource, and even did not provide OEM authorization to Microsoft. the link to. The new egg page contains the following statement: "The use of OEM System Builder Channel software will be limited by Microsoft OEM System Builder. This software is pre-installed on new PCs that will be resold." However, new eggs The network also did not provide a detailed license agreement, nor did it warn users that they should not purchase this version of the software.

Microsoft's Windows 7 forum did not provide an accurate statement. For example, some users have asked if he can buy OEM System Builder and help customers upgrade their computers as a small company operator. Microsoft's "MVP" on the forum replied that he can buy OEM System Builder. The OEM version of the system is reliable, and the only difference from the full version is that once installed, it can no longer be installed on other computers. However, this statement is a clear violation of the Microsoft licensing agreement. There are many similar answers on the Microsoft forum.

Microsoft should be "specially special"

All kinds of information from Microsoft's website are inducing users to purchase and install OEM version of Windows 7, even Microsoft's help forum is also providing errors. answer. Technically, the user is actually not allowed to install the version of the software.

A Microsoft spokesperson said that the use of OEM software has not changed, and the Microsoft documents circulating on the Internet were "wrong". However, industry insiders believe that as long as Microsoft has published this document on its own website, it means that Microsoft's policy is like this. It is not advisable to suddenly change the policy by deleting the document and saying that the relevant document never exists. This means lack of transparency and disrespect for consumers.

The industry believes that software licensing agreements should be respected, but given that Microsoft has not been able to effectively communicate with users in this incident, Microsoft should do something special. Microsoft officials should approve users to use the OEM version of Windows 7 under reasonable circumstances.