[jonathanwest]

Does MS Office communicate with the internet and microsoft detects whether it is pirated or not? I told my friend it was not a good idea because MS seems serious nowadays but he can install a pirated version of Office 2007. How big a risk would he be taking?

I also heard that you cannot install updates if hte product is pirated. How important would these updates be?

[EricB]

Originally Posted by jonathanwest

Does MS Office communicate with the internet and microsoft detects whether it is pirated or not? I told my friend it was not a good idea because MS seems serious nowadays but he can install a pirated version of Office 2007. How big a risk would he be taking?

I also heard that you cannot install updates if hte product is pirated. How important would these updates be?

I wouldn't worry about it yet. it will be another year or 2 beside they even started checking.

they want to make money first. when sells start to decline, that's when they will start checking

[Mak213]

Actually Office is a part of the Windows Update now. There is a mandatory update that install a WGA for Office already.

So M$ does check for the validity of Office. If you have a good keygen then you dont have to worry. But other than that it could detect if you have a porated version.

[jonathanwest]

Originally Posted by Makaveli213

Actually Office is a part of the Windows Update now. There is a mandatory update that install a WGA for Office already.

So M$ does check for the validity of Office. If you have a good keygen then you dont have to worry. But other than that it could detect if you have a porated version.

What precautions should he take? He just told me "it is so expensive" but for certain reasons he needs Office and not something else.

Yahoo! Answers - Default How does microsoft detect/enforce Office piracy in Vista? The question was asked here too, the first answer scares me. Is it really this serious?

[Jake]

A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection

“In today's environment these content protection features are indeed a nonsense. I don't think, however that Microsoft are thinking about today's environment beyond keeping these features low-key for most users in order to avoid rejection. In their heads Microsoft see the 'connected home' where everyone has a network and displays around the house that integrate everything from TV to email, Internet, telephone, lighting and heating. In order to do these things on your TV you need a computer attached to it and Microsoft want that computer to run Windows”.

So not only will Microsoft be able to lock out any competitors, but because they will then represent the only available distribution channel they'll be able to dictate terms back to the content providers whose needs they are nominally serving in the same way that Apple has already dictated terms back to the music industry: Play by Apple's rules, or we won't carry your content. And as the example above shows, they'll also be able to dictate terms to consumers in order to ensure a continual revenue flow. The result will be a technologically enforced monopoly that makes their current de-facto Windows monopoly seem like a velvet glove in comparison

[GSM CEO]

How much is what he needs?

[Slam'n Systems]

Its odd, few friends at my school who also have Vista (Full, non-pirated) have pirated Office 2003. I bought it myself simply because I hate running pirated software, I like to be authentic and I told em that I highly doubt it would work with the updates, but they say they now installed all these updates for Office that Vista caught without a problem. Interesting I thought

[jonathanwest]

So, should he have anything to worry aobut? He is going ahead to do it what advice and precautions should he do?

[EricB]

Originally Posted by Slam'n Systems

Its odd, few friends at my school who also have Vista (Full, non-pirated) have pirated Office 2003. I bought it myself simply because I hate running pirated software, I like to be authentic and I told em that I highly doubt it would work with the updates, but they say they now installed all these updates for Office that Vista caught without a problem. Interesting I thought

I don't think that they care much about 2003

[Slam'n Systems]

Originally Posted by EricB

I don't think that they care much about 2003

Oh maybe, yeah.. I would guess with 07' Office they'll be more strict, but whats so better about 2007 than 2003? I mean, how much more is there really to add?