Microsoft claimed on Monday that it was forced to change the way it enforces its software licensing, after detecting evidence of widespread use of unlicensed copies of Office.
As many as a third of Office packages could be unlicensed, the company said.
The figures came from to Michala Alexander, Microsoft's head of anti-piracy, who told ZDNet UK that the figure of 33 percent is for UK users. It is the percentage of people who voluntarily registered to use Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) and found that they did not have a genuine copy of Office.
I think the proportion of people who want to try out the OGA site is particularly high for Office.
Michala Alexander, Microsoft
"It is a very high percentage when you consider that the rate for Windows is just 12 percent," said Alexander. "And when you consider that the BSA's (Business Software Alliance) figure for all software is 27 percent."
A total of 80,000 people in the UK have voluntarily joined the OGA scheme. "I think the proportion of people who want to try out the OGA site is particularly high for Office," Alexander said.
As of Friday, users can't download Office Online templates from within Microsoft Office System 2007 applications without first proving that they are using a licensed copy of Office.
Microsoft is also planning further measures — from January 2007, Office Update also must be validated by Office Genuine Advantage (OGA). The OGA scheme was introduced in April as a pilot.
But Alexander insisted that the changes would not mean that users could lose the functions within Office. "They only apply to updates and templates and everybody will be able to use Office." Alexander said she could not say what percentage of people used Office templates but agreed it was "probably quite a lot".
Talkback
One third of all Office software is forged, pirated, copied or in other words nicked? I am sure that is what Microsoft want us to believe but I think the reality for companies is very different. Can we have a recount please?
Apart from finding it a little difficult to believe that a third of UK businesses are running unlicenced versions of Office, why not just cut the Gordian knot and start using OpenDocument?
For anyone who's failed the GWA advantage test that Microsoft has set - dowload OpenOffice or try one of the excellent new hosted apps available like Thinkfree. At the end of the day - does software need to be this much hassle - I for one don't want to have to jump through hoops just because Microsoft wants to prop up its sliding margins. The idea of a local Office apps is just so 1990s - and indicative of how behind the curve MS is - Genuine Disadvantage more like...
Sounds like the shareholders are making it very uncomfortable for Microsoft. Each 'fake' copy of office is a potential paying customer in the eyes of the shareholders, not that it ever happens that way.
Microsoft's monopoly position as the de-facto file format leads to a pricing policy that is totally out of line with the software's utility to home users. As a result a lot of home copies are pirate. The only reason windows is less pirated is all the arm twisting they have done on the OEM's to police the "windows tax" on new PCs. Who can afford shelling out for office every 4 years to et a load of extra features that they do not need.
In the past when MS office had competition home copy's were ignored as people who have office at home were more likely to support it's introduction at work.
I advise people to look at open office or ability office while at the same time insisting on open file formats that allow free competition.
it seem not fair for people who had their pc crash by virus as microsoft keys only use once as it bigger rip off and money grabber microsoft is getting .
unlicensed is only for people who had their pc crash and rebuilt ,
Microsoft firewall and anivirus dont stop virus etc as people pc crash should be microsoft blame themself for not proctect everyone pc.
everyone buy new pc never had full licensed cd as rip off too.
Should given fulled licensed cd as backup if crash pc.