Microsoft Product Activation (MPA) is an anti-piracy technology that is designed to help verify that the product is valid. MPA is an umbrella term for technology such as Windows Product Activation (WPA) in Microsoft Windows and Office Activation Wizard (OAW) in Microsoft Office.

MPA is designed to stop a form of piracy that is known as casual copying. Casual copying is the sharing of a single license for a product across multiple, unlicensed installations.

For example, a customer purchases a copy of Windows and installs it on a computer. Then, this customer loans the media to a neighbor, who installs it on a different computer. The second installation is not legitimate and MPA is designed to prevent that unlicensed use.

MPA is easy to complete. For many users, it is only required one time for the life of the product. Some users may have to reactivate their product if they upgrade a significant number of components in their computer. For licensing issues, see the product's EULA for more information.

You may activate over the Internet, or by phone. During Internet activation, digital certificates are exchanged between the user's computer and Microsoft. During telephone activation, Microsoft provides the user with a 42-digit Confirmation ID after a few brief questions. The data that is exchanged is used only for the purpose of activation. None of the information collected during activation will be used to personally identify you. Microsoft privacy statement.

MPA is included in several versions of Microsoft products, starting with Microsoft Office XP (and single programs such as Word 2002), Windows XP, Microsoft Visio 2002, Microsoft FrontPage 2002, and Microsoft Project 2002 and continuing in more recent products. Product activation is required in retail packaged products and in new computers that have been purchased from a computer manufacturer. Product activation is not required for licenses that customers acquire through one of the Microsoft volume licensing programs, such as Open License or Select License.