Pirates rejoice - Free Windows 10 OS upgrade even if you don't own a legal license

scrimshaw on 18/03/2015 - 23:06
Last edited 22/03/2015 - 12:29

According to Reuters, and Gizmodo Microsoft is planning to allow free upgrades for everyone including those using non genuine copies of Windows. Though the offer looks like it may be limited to China for the moment (still waiting for Microsoft's official answer)

"We are upgrading all qualified PCs, genuine and non-genuine, to Windows 10," he said in a telephone interview with Reuters. The plan is to "re-engage" with the hundreds of millions of users of Windows in China, he said, without elaboration.

Myerson said Windows 10 would be released globally sometime "this summer". That is the first time Microsoft has put a time frame on the release, although it has been expected in autumn, based on Microsoft's release history.

Microsoft said in January it would offer free upgrades to Windows 10 for users of Windows 7 or later in an attempt to hold onto users and make up for lost revenue by selling services such as Office over the Internet.

time to dig out that old FCKGW product license key, it could come in handy someday :)

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2899877/windows-10-upgrades-w…

Additional news by M$ — upgrades done to an unlicensed copy of Windows will still remain unlicensed.

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Comments

  • Davo1111 on 18/03/2015 - 23:26

    haha

    windows 7 or later though, so unfortunatly you wont be able to claim that upgrade :)

    • mathew42 on 19/03/2015 - 11:52

      If Microsoft had extended this to XP & Vista it might finally have seen a decline in XP marketshare.

  • iridiumstem on 18/03/2015 - 23:29

    I think it's clever. It would be annoying to downgrade after 1 year of usage.
    As long as Windows 10 doesn't get cracked easily, I think it would force people to use genuine version more.

    • Rorschach on 19/03/2015 - 15:17

      I believe Windows 10 stays free for eternity (??), as long as you upgrade to it in the first year of its release.

      • iridiumstem on 19/03/2015 - 15:26

        I think there are a lot of words out there on this. I thought I've read that the updates on your PC lasts until the license that you've used to upgrade lasts. I have no clue which one is true, though I think because of the security updates, it's not gonna be for eternity at least. Who knows, I'd rather wait till Windows 10 comes out (since at least, I know that I can upgrade my Windows 8).

  • mskeggs on 19/03/2015 - 07:47

    Bill Gates has previously said if pirates are going to use an OS he would rather that be Windows, as he has the possibility of converting them to a paying customer.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2015 - 10:23

    The Chinese are the biggest producers of pirated/countefeit goods ao in a way it makes sense to have this offer in China.

  • nahi11 on 19/03/2015 - 10:36

    Good guy Microsoft.

    Although, I do think they are hoping for too much. Most people in China aren't going to pay for Windows as long as its crackable lol. Great for market share I guess

    • MadMaxBargainRoad on 19/03/2015 - 11:57

      It's a different story now though. 15 years ago, it cost something like $299 to buy a legit copy of Windows XP and the average income of China is about $199 per month in the top cities. Whatever righteous reasons you can think of, it simply didn't make sense for them to buy one (yes! even for the government).

      Now it's more like a culture that got carried over. It only costs 1/10th of ppl's monthly salary to get a legit copy but most people still don't get one because they are not award the benefit of it. Microsoft made their smartest move in years I would say.

    • Kanasuke on 19/03/2015 - 22:03

      The Chinese actually have a strong understanding of free culture and free market in prints, even though they probably don't call it that over there. It's in their ancestry.

      There is a saying, "To Steal a Book Is an Elegant Offense."

      Which is also the name of a book by William P Alford (1995) detailing the long history of China's opposition to the printing regulators.
      http://c4sif.org/2013/02/to-steal-a-book-is-an-elegant-offen…

      In fact I have read as late as late 1990s, there were still segments of artists who actively protested against western style copyright privileges being foisted onto them (actual enforcement was a very recent thing in China).

  • NFS on 19/03/2015 - 11:51

    Nice!

  • bargained on 19/03/2015 - 11:52
    -1

    Globally this summer. So that''s between January and December. Give or take a couple of days.

    • rompastompa on 19/03/2015 - 12:17
      -1

      Unless you're in the Northern hemisphere…

  • futaris on 19/03/2015 - 12:27
    +1

    FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8 ?

    • rompastompa on 19/03/2015 - 12:42

      XP not included. ;)

  • Doge on 19/03/2015 - 13:06
    +4

    If you aren't paying anything, you're the product.

    • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2015 - 06:58

      You're the product anyway, why pay for the privilege.

  • Lord Fart Bucket on 19/03/2015 - 13:53
    -5

    Seems microsoft is finally understanding you can't charge for a substandard OS.

  • tanastra on 19/03/2015 - 15:36

    new Young CEO with fresh vision for MS , just like young BilLL Gates … My 2 cents …

    • tonyjzx on 23/03/2015 - 14:23

      so basically nothing has changed and there's no news

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