The scheme, which is voluntary at present, asks visitors to the
Download Center (as opposed to the Windows Update site) to check
that the Windows software installed on their machines is in fact a
legitimate and licensed copy.
If it is, then the user will have access to the downloads and
updates available on the site. If it is not, then the user will
still gain access to the material, but will first have to wade
through some details about software piracy, seeking to educate him
or her and stressing the greater reliability, faster access to
support and overall richer experience of using legal software.
At present, the system does not offer any advantage to the
"genuine" user, but that may change in the future.
Speaking to the IDG news service, Microsoft's David Lazar said,
"Certainly we would want to provide greater access and more ongoing
value for genuine users and restrict access for those who are found
to be using non-genuine copies of Windows."
Microsoft is looking to sign up over 20,000 volunteers to test
the system, who will remain anonymous. The only data collected from
the validation process will relate to the operating system itself,
in order to determine if it is genuine.
