ML> Piracy is a crime, invasion of privacy is also a crime.

BA> Huh?  Is it?

Yes, in some circumstances.

BA> Microsoft CAN get a warrant and enter your house at any time.

Nope, not just coz they feel like it and want to have a perve.

BA> You need to be accurate here.

You need to yourself.

BA> Many Government departments can enter your yard/house WITHOUT
BA> your permission and sometimes without a search warrant.

And generally cant say rummage thru your filing cabinet
when they can enter without a warrant for other reasons.

ML> It smacks of self incrimination, where you bought a copy of software,
ML> from someone, ie second hand, but the liscence hasn't changed hands (you
ML> have the original disks and manuals, only you were not the orig purchaser).

BA> I hope you check the licence agreement because
BA> many software products cannot be resold.

You never agreed to that condition, the original purchaser normally didnt
either, whatever MS like to claim in fine print on some envelope you open.

BA> Remember you buy the right to use the software,
BA> you do not actually buy the software.

Thats only true if you agree to that, mostly you havent agreed to that.

BA> If you can, the licence MUST change hands for the purchase to be legal.

It aint anywhere near that simple.

ML> You have to understand on the surface you are correct. But for every
ML> pirate out there that doesnt want MS having a 'look' at there HD, there
ML> are 3 people who have a legit reason for not wanting MS to have a look.

BA> That's fair enough I suppose (although I don't agree),
BA> but our law is based on many instances like this.

Nope. Our law CERTAINLY doesnt operate on an automatic assumption of guilt.

BA> All our laws are based on treating people equal

Which isnt relevant to the question of MS snooping on your hard drive.

BA> and those of you (I assume you are one of the 3?) who are legis
BA> should appreciate Microsofts attempts to reclaim what is there.

Fraid not, no more than I appreciate some Neighborhood Watch person
searching my shed or house without my approval, to see if there are any
goods there with someone elses drivers licence number engraved on them.

BA> I would suggest that you ring Microsoft youself because I believe that
BA> you are missing the point of the registration program, it is to REGISTER
BA> the Microsoft products you own, not find out what's on your hard disk.

Sure, no argument there. And, as you said earlier and I deleted, you
dont even have to use the electronic rego at all if you dont want to.

BA> Anyway, try to appreciate how much revenue Microsoft loses to piracy.

That gives them NO rights to snoop on people tho.

BA> They lose more than they earn.

Thats distinctly arguable. Its very hard to say how many of those who
do pirate would actually pay for a legal copy. Presumably if they didnt
pirate most would just do without and MS wouldnt get that money anyway.

BA> For every legit copy of Windows there are up to 10 pirated copies.

Thats just a number plucked out of the air.
No one really knows how accurate it is.

BA> The loss is EXHORBITANT....

That assumes they would pay if they could be made to. I doubt it.

Then you can also look at it the other way, MS has produced the richest
person in the world, 3 billionaires, 2K+ millionaires. Hardly destitution.

BA> If they were to take action to recoup
BA> (or at least stop) the loss then so be it.

Only if they use legal means to do so. I wont be allowing house to
house searches for pirate software any time I have any say in the law.
It MS doesnt get quite so stinking rich in the process, thats life.

BA> I run my own business and I know how it feels
BA> to lose $100 worth of stuff to shoplifters,

Yes, and society has decided that you arent allowed to strip search
customers whenever you feel like it. And if you try that with a person
who has not stolen from you you can be in very deep do do indeed.

BA> imagine if you lost $100,000,000???? (or whatever).

Billy seems to be able to manage somehow, even with that loss rate |-)

BA> You would be extremely annoyed and looking for ways to stop it.

And we have laws which restrict your options on that. Fine by me.

BA> I do not believe the right for privacy is so
BA> great that it outweighs all other matters,

True. But when MS has got absolutely stinking rich anyway, my right
to privacy is more important than seeing them get stinking richer.

BA> perhaps if there were more honesty in our world
BA> we wouldn't be put into situations like this :(

Yes, if no one ever did anything not very nice, life would
be better. No one has been able to find the magic wand to
bring that about tho. Do you know where it is ? |-)

BA> Bron (ps,  you are entitled to your option, just as I
BA> am to mine, I am glad to find someone who is willing
BA> to state his opinion without TELLING me i'm wrong :)

You're wrong |-)

--- PQWK202