Microsoft expands Office antipiracy 'nagging'

U.S., U.K. and 11 other countries added to 'voluntary' program that pesters pirates with on-screen messages

Microsoft Corp. today announced it was expanding an antipiracy program for Office to the U.S., the U.K. and 11 other countries that will identify pirated copies of the suite and nag users with on-screen messages.

The expansion follows a pilot program Microsoft launched in four countries in April 2008, then extended to an additional 24.

This is the first time, however, that Microsoft has asked U.S. users to install a notifications component that pesters users if it determines the copy of Office is illegitimate.

Microsoft said the download of the notification component was "voluntary," and that it has started to push the software to users today. Because the program is launching over several months, not everyone will see it immediately.

For Windows XP users, the update is marked "High Priority" in the list generated when they retrieve downloads from Microsoft Update; Vista users see it tagged as "Important." Even if users have Automatic Updates set to download and install all updates, the notifications software requires users to accept an End User License Agreement (EULA) before it will install.

However, once it's downloaded and installed, the new notifications application cannot be uninstalled.

The notifications component that Microsoft is pitching is separate from the companion validations element: The former posts periodic messages on the screens of PCs running illegal copies of Office, while the latter determines if the software is legitimate.

At one time, Office users had to validate their copies in order to access add-ons, such as free Office 2007 templates, and to use Office Update, an Office-only service that was just terminated in favor of the combination Windows-Office service dubbed "Microsoft Update."

Last spring, Microsoft dropped those requirements, and allowed users running counterfeit copies to download add-ons. With the disappearance of Office Update earlier this month, all users can grab security and bug-fix updates via Microsoft Update, regardless of the status of their software.

According to Microsoft's support site, Office Genuine Advantage Notifications software puts up a message when a pirated copy is launched. "This copy of Microsoft Office is not genuine," the message reads.

"Please excuse this interruption. This copy of Microsoft Office did not pass validation. Click Learn More for details and for help identifying the best way to get genuine Microsoft Office."

Microsoft also adds a message-bearing toolbar to Office XP and Office 2003, and adds a similar message to the "ribbon" interface of Office 2007. "This copy of Office is not genuine. Click here to learn more," the toolbar and ribbon messages read.

Office 2010, the still-in-the-works version slated to ship in the first half of next year, will also include antipiracy validation and notification elements.

Microsoft has periodically faced resistance to its anticounterfeit programs, including Windows Genuine, as well as the lesser-known Office cousin.

At times, the complaints have been extremely vocal. Last year, Microsoft inadvertently pushed the pilot notifications program -- meant to reach users only in Chile, Italy, Spain and Turkey -- to customers worldwide via Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), triggering a flood of false warnings and getting system administrators hot under the collar.

To make matters worse, the notifications update to WSUS machines had been ranked "Critical," which meant most corporate update servers automatically approved it and pushed it to client PCs.

"This update was deployed as a CRITICAL Update? While this may be critical to Microsoft's bottom line, any clear-thinking IT person would assume (silly me) that a critical update would be critical to IT in the sense of stability or security," said a user identified as Chris Edwards-Dawn in a support forum at the time.

Microsoft acknowledged its mistake, but waited several days to provide an official explanation.

As it has in the past, Microsoft today said the expansion of its Office program was meant to protect customers.

"The ultimate goal of our programs that stem the flood of piracy is not only to lessen the impact of these illegal activities, but also to ensure that our customers enjoy all the capabilities -- as well as the peace of mind -- that come with using genuine software," said Cori Hartje, senior director of Microsoft's anticounterfeit group, in a statement.

A Microsoft spokeswoman added to Hartje's comment saying, "Non-genuine software has been shown to be more vulnerable to viruses and spyware, which can be used to damage a user's PC or steal their personal information."

Users whose copies of Office 2007 are flagged as bogus -- and only Office 2007; earlier editions aren't eligible -- may qualify for a free replacement through Microsoft's Office Complimentary Offer.

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