did "David Ewalt" forward the entire message to you, or wherever you got this from? Sounds worth paying attention to, if there is any backup. thx || -----Original Message----- || From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] || Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 12:01 PM || To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L || Subject: FYI: For those out there who also Hate MS || || || ** Microsoft Trolls For Informants || || Microsoft is coming under fire for a new program that promises || prizes to computer-system builders who report customers ordering || PCs without a pre-installed operating system. || || Microsoft unveiled the program in an E-mail apparently sent last || week to system builders on the West Coast. The E-mail explains || that the program is meant to insure compliance with || software-licensing agreements. "Many organizations that are || sending out bids believe that because they have enrolled in a || Microsoft volume-license program... that operating systems for || newly-acquired PCs are automatically enrolled," it reads. "There || is no volume-licensing program at Microsoft that covers operating || systems for new PCs." || || As such, Microsoft asks that the builders turn over suspect bids || to them. If the bids are found to be due to a site-license || violation, informants will earn one point for each PC specified || on the bid. The points can then be redeemed for prizes--five || Microsoft game titles for 250 points; a Fossil "Big Tic" watch || for 500; and a "Fast Cook & Grill Combo and Travel Chair" for || 1,000. || || Critics of Microsoft fear that the program will be used to track || down or intimidate users of operating systems like Linux, who || might order the machines "naked" in order to install the software || themselves. "I think an argument exists that gathering || information to [potentially] request an audit on businesses that || choose not to buy Windows creates a chilling effect," wrote one || poster on open-source advocacy site Slashdot.org. || || "I think it's pretty sleazy," says Andrew Grygus, owner of || Automation Access, a systems integrator for small businesses. || Grygus, who received the E-mail last Wednesday, says "Microsoft || doesn't seem to have a lot of respect for people. He adds that || Microsoft is being "heavy handed" in its efforts to enforce || licenses, but he doesn't think the company is actually hunting || Linux users. "I'm sure they'll be happy to get those names, || though." Grygus says he won't participate in the program. "I have || no inclination to turn in my customers." || || Representatives of Microsoft were unavailable for comment. || - David M. Ewalt || -- || Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com || -- || Author: || INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] || || Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 || San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / || Mailing Lists || -------------------------------------------------------------------- || To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message || to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in || the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L || (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may || also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). || -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Mohan, Ross INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
