ITinfo: Microsoft Scraps Snitch Program

No Summer Grilling For You

Resellers lose a valued Microsoft incentive

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Microsoft Scraps Snitch Program

by Dave Murphy
ISSN 1535-3613

Computer resellers will no longer be able to collect incentives for snitching on their customers who buy barebones computers without Microsoft Windows pre-installed.

Microsoft was reportedly concerned that the so-called barebones PCs might be loaded with illegal copies of its Windows operating systems (OS). While some buyers may knowingly skirt Microsoft's software license, I think the intention of many is to install Linux or another operating system.

Especially for network servers, the cost of a license for Microsoft Windows software can easily run into the thousands of dollars. It's no wonder there's a market for barebones PCs. Why should users of other OSes pay for an operating system that they would have to remove from their system and leave unused?

Microsoft wanted names, lots of them. Offering up customers who bought barebones systems netted dealers some interesting incentives:

250 empty PCs earned a pack of five Microsoft games
500 led to a watch
1000 systems earned an outdoor grill and lawn chair

Microsoft intended to release the collected names to law enforcement officials for investigation and full prosecution.

I see two sides to Microsoft's effort: the company wants to catch users of pirated Windows installations, and honest users who feel their privacy has been infringed. Industry watchdogs saw Microsoft's snitch plan as an attempt to single out customers who wanted to install Linux on their PCs. Linux being the primary competition for Microsoft's server OSes.

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updated May 25, 2001
http://dgl.com/itinfo/2001/it010525a.html