Beijing (China) - Microsoft has come under significant criticism in China following the scheduled release of a new version of their Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) tool this past Monday. Making good on an August warning, the new version changed their stance on piracy and now affects the desktop environment in versions of Windows Microsoft believes are pirated. Users experience constant nag messages and a black desktop background after 60 minutes of use if WGA cannot authenticate Windows. At least one lawyer believes Microsoft's actions are illegal, while other software agencies believe Microsoft isn't targeting the pirates, but rather victims of what appears to be well established piracy rings.


Black desktops and warnings

Microsoft sent out warning notifications in August stating that previously ignored anti-piracy policies in Windows XP Professional would be activated and brought in line with those currently in Vista SP1. Microsoft made good on their warning last Monday. And now, thousands of users are affected and outraged at the change.

Microsoft released a new version of WGA, their well-known authentication tool. If it detects the user's version is known to Microsoft to be pirated, the user's desktop and Windows experience is significantly affected - though not rendered inoperable. Still, many users and watchdog activist groups fear WGA will not stop there.

As time goes on their concerns are WGA will render the machine unusable, possibly by shutting down or locking the user out completely until a valid version of Windows XP Professional is verified.


"Hacker Microsoft"

Beijing lawyer, Dong Zhengwei, wrote in China Daily that Microsoft could be engaging in illegal activity under Chinese Law. He states, "[What Microsoft has done] will cause serious functional damage to users' computers and, according to China's Criminal Law, the company can stand accused of breaching and hacking into computer systems of Chinese ... [Microsoft is] the biggest hacker in China with its intrusion into users' computer systems without their agreement or any judicial authority."


Protect user's rights, not corporate profits

The Beijing lawyer also sated, "[Microsoft] should target producers and sellers of fake software, not users ... The authorities should take action to protect citizens' property and privacy rights."

Dong believes that what Microsoft has done is illegal under Chinese law because many users purchased what they believed to be legitimate copies of Microsoft products - including operating systems. They are only now finding out they were victims of a complex and massive piracy ring.

In 2006, Microsoft released a version of WGA which ultimately led to a lawsuit which is still ongoing. The suit alleges WGA identified several thousand legitimate Windows users as having illegal versions. Last week, a federal judge granted Microsoft's request to keep WGA technical secrets sealed, claiming that hackers could use the information to bypass WGA's new policies if their technical details were made public.


High cost of ownership

Dong states the high cost of Microsoft products is a key factor in the large percentage of piracy. According to one source, when launched Microsoft Vista Home full, for example, sold for the equivalent of $310 in China compared to only $159 in the U.S.

Chen Chong, director of China's software trade group called the China Software Industry Association (CSIA), stated to People's Daily on Monday, "[What Microsoft has done] is very bad and the whole industry in China must take it seriously." It's worth noting that China's Microsoft Corporation is a member of the CSIA.


Desire to help

Microsoft defended their position to Reuters, stating "[Our goal is to] help our customers to determine if genuine software is installed on their computers."