MS Sued Over WGA Spyware

[GhostShip]

About time too I think 

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/275780_msftsuit29.html?source=mypi

A computer user is suing Microsoft Corp. over the company's Windows Genuine Advantage anti-piracy tool, alleging that it violates laws against spyware.
The suit by Los Angeles resident Brian Johnson, filed this week in U.S. District Court in Seattle, seeks class-action status for claims that Microsoft didn't adequately disclose details of the tool when it was delivered to PC users through the company's Automatic Update system.

Windows Genuine Advantage is designed to check the validity of a computer user's copy of the operating system. But the tool became a subject of heightened controversy earlier this month, after PC users began noticing that it was making daily contact with Microsoft's servers without their knowledge, even if their software was valid.

"Microsoft effectively installed the WGA software on consumers' systems without providing consumers any opportunity to make an informed choice about that software," the suit alleges.

I think most of the online comunity are aware of the super fast licence agreement change, after the first complaints started to pour in.
This program was installed and downloaded to the xp using public under the heading of a major security update when the reality is it was not as described.

They are in my opinion, likely to want to settle this one.

[KM]

they broke my XP install, i downloaded XP in order to make use of it as allowed under the copyright designs and patents act, and microsoft have attempted to prevent me making use of it, in direct violation of copyright law

i won't complain though, not like i would ever actually use it for anything other than testing XP compatibility, heh

[SamSeeSam]

Could someone please post the link on how to remove the wga please? I don't remember where it is... Got that crap just two weeks ago.
Do you get a choice on updates in microsoft? I can't seem to find any, so i think there is none... :|

[Bearded Blunder]

Um I think there's links in a thread further down this section, I'm, too tired just this moment to search.

If you turn automatic updating OFF you get "complete freedom" to pick & choose updates, within the rules Microsoft impose.. which is to say, once you have SP2 you pretty much MUST accept WGA before they will permit you to pick anything else... Any interest they have in your Windows being bug free or secure takes a poor third place to "Did you pay us an inflated price for this?"

[SamSeeSam]

Thanks bearded blunder. I found it right in the second page. I was sure it was it winmx lyte... For anyone else who might want the page...
https://forum.winmxworld.com/index.php/board,10.20.html
Cheers and thank you