The Microsoft Advantage
Microsoft Genuine Advantage programs help you to determine whether or not your software is genuine. Microsoft genuine software is published by Microsoft, properly licensed, and supported by Microsoft or an authorized partner, giving you full capabilities, access to all the latest updates, and confidence that you are getting the experience you expect. The program is part of Microsoft's Genuine Software Initiative that focuses the company's many activities and investments directed at combating software counterfeiting and other forms of software piracy into a single coordinated effort. The initiative focuses on increasing investments in education, engineering, and enforcement. It's part of Microsoft's commitment to help protect the industry, to help protect Microsoft's intellectual property, and to help you avoid problems before they happen.
Piracy is a significant problem that persists worldwide. The Business Software Alliance and market research firm IDC reported in the Global Software Piracy Study that 35% of the software installed in 2006 on personal computers (PCs) worldwide was obtained illegally, amounting to nearly $40 billion in global losses due to software piracy. Consumers spend millions of dollars each year on counterfeit copies, financing scammers who threaten the integrity of the software industry and the security of home and business computers. Often, counterfeit copies are bundled with malicious, unwanted malware that can lead to a corrupted system, a loss of data, and even identity theft. This is a serious threat because it can be difficult to detect counterfeit software - you might have it on your machine and not even know it.
Microsoft and its customers can work together to stop piracy. Microsoft Genuine Software programs make it easy to help you to determine if your copy is genuine through product activation and validation. Activation works by verifying that your product key code is legitimately licensed. Validation ensures that the product key activated is genuine and is properly being used. If your copy does not pass activation or validation, Microsoft can help you by offering a detailed description of the cause of the problem and by giving you the opportunity to easily fix it online. Microsoft values your privacy and does not use information collected during the validation process to identify you or contact you.2
By educating customers about anti-piracy, working with partners around the world to improve enforcement, and investing in technology to make it easier to identify and protect against counterfeit software, Microsoft can better ensure that customers and businesses will fully enjoy the benefits of using quality, supported software.