After the WGA which has proven to be more of a curse than boon by marking legit copies as pirated MS has decided to come out with Office Genuine Adv., God knows why. I started loving office 2007 and so do so many others, why is MS subjecting us to this? However:
The Q&A, with Cori Hartje, Genuine Software Initiative worldwide director, gets down to business on the last question. Hartje said that "Microsoft will soon introduce an Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) Notifications pilot program in Chile, Italy, Spain and Turkey that will be distributed through a voluntary Microsoft update."
"Once notified, customers can take action to reduce the risk of running counterfeit software by getting genuine Office through the online purchase programs or by going to a local authorized Microsoft reseller," Hartje reportedly said. That's where Office buyers have the privilege of paying a second time for the software.
I've long criticized Microsoft's Genuine Advantage approach. The implicit message is one of distrust, that customers are thieves. Microsoft gains tactical benefits from the Genuine Advantage programs and even curbs some piracy. But I'm convinced brand damage offsets any anti-piracy gains.
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