Anti-Piracy Overview

Give your customers peace of mind by installing only genuine Microsoft software. The following information can help you identify and acquire only genuine software and know what to do if you suspect piracy. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Windows Genuine Software and Anti-Piracy

  • Legalization Licensing Solutions
    Learn what to do for customers who become aware that they're running non-genuine Windows.
  • COA and Hologram
    A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) identifies genuine Microsoft Windows software. Without it, your customers will not have a legal license to run their Windows software.
  • Genuine Windows for Small Businesses
    Don’t let your small-business customers fall victim to counterfeit or unlicensed software. Use the downloads on this page to help communicate the value of genuine and risks of counterfeit software to your customers.
  • Genuine Windows Initiative: Windows 7
    Learn why getting only genuine Windows software is so important to your customers.
  • Report Piracy
    Software piracy is a crime that creates unfair market conditions and hurts honest system builders and resellers.

Resources

Software piracy is the illegal reproduction and distribution of software applications, whether for business or personal use.

Your business depends on your reputation for delivering reliable products and services. Illegal software copying and distribution not only hurts end users, but tarnishes the reputation of all resellers and puts illegal companies at an advantage.

  • Look for the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) label. Be sure to look for this label when obtaining OEM System Builder packs of Windows operating systems.
  • Download Piracy Basics. .pdf 370 KB

    This document contains detailed information on the following:

    • Types of Piracy
      Find out about the different categories of piracy, and learn how to protect your customers, your business, and your ideas from piracy.
    • How to Tell
      Available in over 40 languages, Microsoft's How to Tell website helps you and your customers tell whether Microsoft software is genuine.
    • Licensing Dos and Don'ts
      Learn how to ensure that your customers receive fully licensed and supported Microsoft products and services.
    • Spam
      Be wary of email offers for software at prices that are too good to be true; it's likely that they are not genuine Microsoft products.
    • Protecting Honest System Builders
      Learn how Microsoft is protecting honest system builders by intensifying legal actions against resellers involved in piracy.

Microsoft Product Activation

Microsoft Product Activation (MPA) reduces a form of piracy called casual copying. MPA simply requires activation of the software with Microsoft in order to ensure that the software is legitimately licensed. The process is quick, simple, and unobtrusive. Activation is anonymous and customer privacy is protected.

See Windows Product Activation .pdf 151 KB ​

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