Microsoft Updates Vista Licensing -- Again
As expected, Microsoft has softened a key element of Vista licensing, enabling (more like re-enabling, if you think about it) users to transfer their retail license from one system to another, without restriction -- so long as they aren't shared simultaneously.
Personally, I think that Microsoft floated this change to Vista knowing full well that there would be a ton of resistance. They may not have been sure exactly how much, but this was easy enough for a five-year old to predict. The cool thing for them, now, is that they get to trumpet how well they respond to customer feedback. And it makes other changes in the licensing seem much more palatable by comparison.
Microsoft's real goal is software subscriptions, so you can be sure that they will be ready to try this again. (Remember how many times they pushed the idea of WPA and WGA before they finally went implemented them? They are positively relentless.)
Microsoft definitely has a right, and even a need, to protect its intellectual property from piracy and misuse, but it needs to ensure that it doesn't cause customers to more highly consider alternative products in order to minimize the perceived hassle factor. They really need to work on multi-user pack pricing (outside of the extremely wonderful ActionPack for resellers and consultants) since they know that there are so many networked home installations, and that this is where a major temptation is with regards to piracy.
Technorati tags:
Licensing,
Vista,
Piracy
About Logik!
Andrew S. Baker aka ASB aka Logik!
Andrew S. Baker is a business-savvy, hands-on IT leader with expertise in mentoring people, mitigating risk, and integrating technology to drive innovation and maximize business results. He creates competitive advantage for organizations through effective IT leadership: implementation of processes and controls, and architecture of robust business solutions.
Mr. Baker has successfully led a number of high-performance technology teams in designing, deploying and maintaining secure, cost-effective computing environments for well-known companies, including Warner Music Group, The Princeton Review, Bear Stearns, About.com, and Lewco Securities.
For over a decade, Andrew has exhibited thought leadership on technology and business topics via mailing lists, technical forums, blogs, and professional networking groups, along with contributions to podcasts, webinars, and over 20 technical/business magazine articles. He also serves on several boards and committees for non-profit organizations, and within the Seventh-day Adventist church.
His personal interests include Astronomy, Basketball, Bible Study, Chess, Comics, Computers,
Family Life Ministries, Reading, Strategy/Role Playing games, and Professional Networking...
A summary of Andrew's current résumé is available here, and he can be reached on a variety of social and professional networks, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.