DO NOT SHARE OR LEAK SOFTWARE (there, I’m done). I do think that this is going to be an interesting dilemma for Microsoft re: Windows 8. On one hand, Microsoft cannot and will not officially tolerate software piracy because it is by definition, a software company. It has to (rightfully) protect the billions it spends annually on IP. On the other hand, this Operating System is different. It’s a transitional OS and Microsoft need as many people as possible to start adopting the OS and speaking the Metro language. What then will the company do? I have absolutely no affiliation with Microsoft and therefore this is just a theory but I would guess that Microsoft will do something kind of in the middle and stay relatively silent about the issue. In addition, they have lowered the price of the upgrade for the OS so that should help with piracy in parts of the western world where it would make a difference. In Africa and the rest of the developing world, $39.99 is a tremendous amount of money so I suspect that the upgrade price and policy will be largely ignored. I have absolutely no affiliation with Microsoft and therefore this is just a theory but I would imagine that Windows 9 would have a lot more emphasis on security and anti-sharing than this OS will. Right now, I suspect that software piracy is the least important thing on Microsoft’s mid. Just my 10 cents. What do you guys and girls think? P.S. Proactive apology to the hackers and leakers out there if Microsoft feel they have to address this now. It was a good topic for a blog post. :-)]]>
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