Many other news sites have just picked up the original article believing that it’s legit. We have already updated our original post from last night and are posting the following to correct any disinformation out there.
Has Microsoft adopted an even tougher stance on piracy? According to recent e-mails warning of new, harsher anti-piracy measures in Windows Vista, that was believed to be the case.
Australian PC World printed an e-mail Tuesday it says was sent from a Microsoft representative to an unspecified large Vista OEM distributor. The e-mail describes a new initiative which renders computers running a pirated copy of Vista unusable by making the screen totally black.
Microsoft was quick to debunk this e-mail warning of a Black Screen of Death. A Microsoft representative told Wired News “the reporter received inaccurate information,” and that the company has not rolled out any updates to Windows Vista’s anti-piracy platform.
Here’s a copy of the e-mail, which was salaciously titled “Pirated Vista - A darkness descends,” as printed by PC World and Computerworld in Australia:
Good Afternoon, As of this week, Microsoft have activated a function in Vista called ‘Reduced Functionality’. This is a
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