Compliance Toolkit
Story: Microsoft DRM tool locked out genuine users
Shades of WGA to come from other vendors
Don't forget that there is also Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) as well that applies to the Office Pack and Visio etc.
Most sites should already be aware that you are prohibited from downloading any software from MS websites unless you "activate" through the "genuine advantage" program. This requires activation after activation etc as it isn't a once only affair!
There will be further activation issues to watch out for as Microsoft plans to offer a similar service to independent software vendors whereby they can "control" licensing through activation and other measures similar to the Software Protection Platform.
Microsoft announced on July 10, 2007 at the Worldwide Partner Conference in Denver, that a new suite of products called Microsoft® Software Licensing and Protection Services (SLP Services) will become available in the October timeframe. Note - The Software Protection Platform (SPP) is the set of anti-piracy technologies that Microsoft is using internally and these are already built into Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Microsoft has stated that currently these “two platforms (SPP and SLPS) are separate technologies and we do not have current plans to make SPP as an ISV offering”.
Using Microsoft® SLP Services, ISVs can protect their software, while giving end users an easy experience to "get legal" with application upgrades
Microsoft® Software Licensing and Protection Services Datasheet (not yet released) describes SLPS as; “Helping software publishers and corporate developers gain positive control of their software through dynamic licensing, protection, and activation services”.
If the Microsoft WGA outage caused this much disruption due to a user error then imagine what will happen when activation measures are deployed badly by more than one vendor - the knock on effects in business will be very disruptive.
Full Talkback thread
