Windows 10 Fights Against Piracy. Opinions?

Microsoft can disable your pirated games and illegal hardware

Updated EULA terms let Microsoft invade your Windows 10 computer in search of counterfeit software.

Microsoft's updated European Licence Agreement terms and conditions let it disable any counterfeit software or hardware and, if you're running a Windows 10 computer, you've just agreed to them.

Section 7b – or “Updates to the Services or Software, and Changes to These Terms” – of Microsoft's Services EULA stipulates that it “may automatically check your version of the software and download software update or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorised hardware peripheral devices.”

This means that, if you use Windows 10, a Windows phone, or any of Microsoft's other services, Redmond can disable any games you've pirated or devices you've unlawfully hacked.

While it's incredibly clear what Microsoft means by “counterfeit games”, the wording “unauthorised hardware peripheral devices” is a little hazy. Does this mean Microsoft can now block uncertified PC or illegally-modified Xbox One and Xbox 360 controllers? Furthermore, Microsoft's EULA doesn't state if it will also disable other counterfeit software, such as cracked versions of Office or Adobe Photoshop, or if it only cares about pirated games.

I've reached out to Microsoft for a comment about these unanswered questions and will update you when more information becomes available.

Video game piracy, or “counterfeit games” as Microsoft puts it, has been a big issue in PC gaming for a long time. Many developers have sought to circumvent it by hard-coding impossible odds into their games, which are only solved by having a purchased activation code on your computer. The same issue is also now becoming prevalent on Android and jailbroken iOS devices. However, under Microsoft's new EULA, Windows 10 Mobile would be able to combat any pirated software a user loads onto their phone – potentially making it an attractive prospect for indie developers scared of having their work stolen.

Interestingly, Microsoft killed off its incredibly unpopular, DRM-heavy, Windows Live Games in Windows 10, and opted to support Steam instead. But, with these new terms and conditions, Microsoft has practically baked DRM into the core of Windows 10.

This one will be a very interesting topic, because the majority of people that complain about this are practically admitting to using pirated software.

Most people have pirated, they just don't want to admit it. You should of course buy copyrighted works and software if you can afford it, but I certainly don't frown upon piracy. I used to pirate a lot when I was younger, but now that I can afford it, I like to support the content creators so that they can continue to make more content that I enjoy. I definitely don't like the idea of built in DRM and having MS snooping around.

There's no DRM that can't be circumvented. Microsoft can't even prevent people from pirating their own software. The idea that they're going to try to help other developers do something that they can't do themselves is hilarious.

This isn't classical DRM though, it's the other way around.

DRM normally is needed to allow legit software to run and activate. What MS is talking about here is not putting a DRM to allow software to run, but using software to detect illegal software running and then disable it.

But muh DX12 for all the games that will totally be using it, while also seeing a massive(5%) increase in fps for those titles.

Although to be fair, I'd be surprised if Microsoft will actually will use this.

- Deus Ex Manking Divided will be using DX12 (some other titles coming out early next year too)

- I haven't seen any increase o decrease fps in gaming

- I agree, MS won't use this. They just need to included it in their EULA to cover their asses.

The difference doesn't strike me as being particularly important. Someone will create a program that stops the anti-piracy software, without Windows 10 even realizing it had been stopped. Or you know, something similar to it.

It's the same old song and dance. It's good publicity to offer a new solution to an old problem, even if we all know that solution isn't likely going to have a big impact on all of our lives.

Take ISP's handing out copyright strikes for example - I remember when tons of people thought it would help bring a stop to piracy. But when it came to the implementation, turns out users only get a warning if you torrent a brand new show, movie, or game within the week it aired. And you get 7 of them before you experience any repercussions. And it's easy to not be detected at all if you put any effort into it. This system has been around for awhile now and I know tons of pirate, yet nobody with more than a couple of copyright strikes. They probably realized that if they had to take the system seriously, they'd have no more customers.

Sort of reminds me of the online ad industry. There are millions of dollars of illegal revenue being generated by ad-publishers around the internet, but these ad-services will only ban their illegitimate ad publishers if they got caught by the people paying for the advertisements. If they pro-actively sought to ban all the illegitimate ad-publishers from the get-go, then the ad-services would take a dramatic hit in their revenue, making them a less effective business.

@FelipeInside: What is illegal hardware?

No idea. I'm guessing modified stuff?

So another major privacy issue from Windows 10. Ya no fucking way will I ever be upgrading to this kind of operating system. First we need access to everything your computer does, when and where it does it. Oh your communications? Yep we need those too. Oh we'll also need your passwords and wifi credentials.. Oh and don't forget we need to be able to check out your personal files and programs, because well we don't want you breaking the law or anything... Don't worry we won't ever use anything we gather against you. We'll just use it to protect ourselves and our interests along with our trusted third parties and Government agencies.

GO **** YOURSELF MICROSOFT! Switching to linux for my new school laptop, I'm done with this kind of bullshit.

@FelipeInside: And for good fucking reason with shit like Bill C-51 passing in my country. And a New Microsoft operating systems that has such broad ranging writing with it's terms of use, that literally hands them access to everything you do on and with your computer if they so wish. I honestly don't understand how people don't find this kind of invasive data snooping to be a bigger issue. 10 years ago a keylogger that sent everything you did, and adware that managed to read all your computer communications and send them to a parent company and any company they so wish, would have been down right illegal. But apparently privacy, isn't something the average person cares about. Or better yet chooses to not care about by wearing their ignorance badge of honor that so many flaunt around now a days.

Or maybe you could do some research and realize that most of what you said is incorrect, and the data that Win10 does collect can be turned off either on install, or in settings.

I'm not defending Win10 or anything (this version does collect more data than previous ones), but you need to go off facts before blurting out stuff.

I've done plenty of research on this subject. Everything I just listed in my original post isn't even all of what is tracked and sent to their cloud, to say I'm incorrect makes it seem like you haven't even bothered to read their terms of agreement. I've read it and everything I've said is actually what they do, and I didn't even list all of what they do. Also if you actually believe turning a couple of off and on buttons in windows 10 gets you out of such things even after signing an agreement giving them permissions to do said things then I don't know If I want to get into this conversation with you.

My stance is still, if you don't want Microsoft and their affiliates to know everything you do on your computer and yes it is everything you do, then don't use this operating system. If you don't believe me go read their EULA like I have, as shown above in the OP's first post, they've made it even more invasive and over bearing.

You do realize that most of those terms and conditions are the same as way back to Windows Vista?

If you're that paranoid about your privacy, then honestly you shouldn't even be on the internet or have a bank account.

I agree with Internet data collection is more than it was before, but it happens everywhere now, not just with Windows.

A large section of the EULA is but by no means can you compare this to windows vista, or even windows 7. I've read my windows 7 EULA and I can tell you it's leagues apart from this kind of behavior and vague writing giving them wide ranging abilities. If you wanted to compare a similarly written EULA from an operating system that started Microsoft's new push, to data mine your info then go look at windows 8. It's the only operating system that even comes close to comparing, besides OS x Yosemite from Apple.

Oh and it doesn't happen everywhere if your smart enough to stop such behavior on your devices. I take control of my shit, it does what I want and nothing more. I also wish I didn't need a bank account, but in the society I live in if you don't have a bank account don't expect to get a job or be able to rent or buy a house. They've made it so they've got me by the balls, and shit like windows 10 is the next step to ripping them off and pulling out the collar and leash.

Exactly my point before, where I said just turn stuff off. You can even use a local account that isn't tied to anything online.

This same website is collecting data from you while you type so like I said before, if you want to be 110% secure, don't even use the internet.

Didn't EA get crucified for having something similar in the Origin ToU not too long ago? I remember them having to change it there was so much outrage.

Origin had something about scanning your drive for compatible EA games in their ToU. Of course the internet over-reacted and thought they were stealing your porn collection.

how is this is even going to work in any meaningful way? DRM often fails so incredibly hard that it ends up hurting the legit users more than the pirates. starforce, securom, uplay and all that.

why is this going to work so perfectly that users of genuine software never get hurt, but all the pirates do?

Well if they actually get it to work that way it would be wonderful, but to be honest I don't think MS are going to even use this ability. They just need to put this in their EULA to cover their own asses with people using non-legit software on their OS (because everyone can sue everyone these days)

Oh crap, I have illegal hardware...

I illegally overclocked my CPU, GPU and my fans run faster than the default settings.

Looks like I'm getting banned :''''''(

@FelipeInside:

They almost admit that a backdoor is in the os. Also the proof the Microsoft is criminal and can't really play the police is bing: Pretty girls.

My biggest concern is the hardware clause of it - what even qualifies as unauthorised hardware peripherals? Anything that MS don't personally like? I'd be pretty damned pissed if it ever causes even the slightest of issues with legally obtained peripherals to say the least - it's unacceptably vague. Not to mention that the whole thing will no doubt be wasting CPU cycles (and for software checking, disk activity too) and the like to do this if they act on it in any meaningful way - decreasing performance unnecessarily and undesirably - that alone makes it something I don't want, and there will no doubt be loopholes/workarounds for it that people using pirated software will be willing to use anyway (heck, many of them will probably be using a pirated copy of windows to begin with), making it rather pointless and rather just asking for negative stigma for the new OS that they're pushing by including it in the terms.

That said, my understanding is this isn't actually part of the OS agreement, but rather a service agreement that is attached to W10 via the microsoft account agreement, which isn't necessary in windows 10 anyway, unlike windows 8 where you'd be locked out of a lot of stuff without one. As such, some people may be able to avoid this particular agreement altogether by simply not using the affected services. Of course, windows games published by MS are including in said 'services' (which is probably where the 'unauthorised hardware peripherals' is going to hit people), among many other things like onenote, xbox media stuff, and anything skype/office/MSN/bing/etc so you may end up missing out on some things you'd like at times for the sake of avoiding it - though for several of them at least there's nothing MS can realistically do to enforce them beyond blocking access to the service even if you do use them without making use of outright malicious practices.

Will wait for this whole thing to be resolved before jumping to Win10.

I wish I had pirated Watch Dogs

Perhaps those fake Xbox controllers for PC and things? Guessing anything Microsoft deem is money you could have given to them instead.

This sounds like a total waste of time on their end, and it's probably just in place if they really had to do it for any legal reasons...

Especially since I've upgraded 8 illegal windows 7 machines to 10 and they've activated just fine... I really don't think they care.

As far as games go it's probably only going to apply to their titles, aka from the store. I cannot see them going through the trouble working with game developers to detect if a game is cracked or not on your system.

My parts that I got overnight from Japan for 10-15Gs and it isn't street legal.

so there are 3 parts to this.

accessing the services: dont know. you could argue that its implied that its accessing the services that give illegal access to anything...but it could be seen as a seperate entity. MS to ban steam..heard it here first folks :P j/k.

counterfeit games: clear enough though im not sure what business MS have in this. no one can actually sue MS for games piracy (they would have if they could) as its not MS doing the deed. this is probably a measure for their own store though if anything.

unauthorized hardware periperal devices: this is a concern. it means nothing..there are no unauthorized hardware periperal devices in the PC world. i can connect what ever i want to MY pc and any attempt to lock it down like the console world is completely unacceptable. MS do not control what i can and cannot do with my PC. its my hardware to do with as i see fit.

Still not illegal is it? I mean you break perhaps the "contract" between you and maker of said hardware, but they can't send the police after you, can they?

What I want to know is, why do people keep down playing the flat out invasion of privacy that MS is committing? And when a company like Canonical includes anything that tracks internet searches and crap, the same people go bat shit crazy? Google, Apple, and MS invade your privacy big time, and no one bats an eye, and just say that in the end, it's good for us and business. Morons. This is another big reason why I have adapted Linux. No need for them to track your every move.

I won't downplay it but at the end of the day there is no right to use Microsoft's Windows 10. You either acquiesce to their rules or you don't. And that's that.

And everyone will just because it's windows, and we have no choice but to use it, or OSX, but both OS's are made by massive corporations that want to know every little thing you are doing, and violate your rights in doing so. BUT like I said, there is linux, which does no such thing.

It will be circumvented probably. Can't say i''m too keen on someone policing your content.

Well, I'm a computer layman but I would use Linux if I knew how to. It all sounds too complicated, so I will continue to use Windows 7 and 8 until this is sorted out.

@Master_Live: not even remotely complicated, I'm not e en that tech savvy, and Linux is a breeze to use. Manjaro is every bit as easy to use as windows that's why I've been using it for 2 years.

1) Block Mircosoft's incoming connection

2) Problem solved

Wow that only took two seconds to fix.

I'm no pirate but everything coming out of Redmond lately is sounding extremely Orwellian. Think I will be moving onto Linux for my next build. Thank God the gaming support is finally up to snuff.

Manjaro is based on Arch, right? Do you ever have issues where your system gets borked by a premature update? How easy is it to get Steam working?

@RossRichard: there have been a couple hiccups over the last 2 years with updates but nothing too major, not as bad as windows updates can be. And manjaro comes with steam preinstalled so all you have to do is click on it and you are all set.

And yes it is based on arch. I think they have really gotten the hang of updates since now you get weekly update packs rather then one update pack every 3weeks.

@AlexKidd5000: Nice, may have to check that one out.

Yes... and the goverment, and most of these software companies involved already know we all pirate.

Your Internet Service provider knows absolutely EVERYTHING you do... yet why are we all going unpunished? because it's IMPOSSIBLE to enforce ... only deter, or offer services that entice people to support.

oh sure... this new EULA is an issue im not happy with, I'm not happy with MS having any control, or viewing rights over my computer beyond basics. much less being able to "police" what people do on their PERSONAL COMPUTERS.

But they will likely on attempt to enforce MS STORE and MS Software licencing... even then I bet they won't bother... I bet it would cost FAR MORE to enforce any of these rules... than it would to just "let it be" (probably the same reason goverments only send out warning letters about piracy as apposed to bloody arresting everyone).

I honestly... barely know anyone in even my looser circles that hasn't downloaded things before buying, or hell ... not even done the latter. Human Nature, combined with a format that is impossible to fully law enforce... s*it happens.

EDIT -

What SaintSatan said .... block incoming connections, block outgoing connections to any microsoft services, unless ofcourse they can do something about that.

Huh?

Was that sarcasm? or else as a mod you shouldn't be saying things like that.

good, suck it pirates.

He's joking - if he played Watch Dogs he'd have known it's not even worth pirating.

It's impossible for them to do anything about it especially if you're using software like Peer Block or whatever.

Well if it's built into the OS, the OS can rely on that connection to operate (or "validate"), so odds are it won't be that easy.

For example, Microsoft could design the OS to lock itself down. and make it completely inaccessible if you block any connection to MS servers. But of course, this is easily bypassed with a properly made crack. Odds are it's just going to be more of the same where they make it harder for pirates to update their OS if they don't have the right crack.