|
| |
Licensing Home
|
Warning
Signs of Counterfeit or Illegal Software
Prices
that are �too good to be true.�
Products
that are missing key elements such as:
 |
User
manuals,
Certificates of Authenticity, or end-user license agreements. |
Pirates often sell only the CD-ROM and jewel
case without retail packaging.
Look for the Certificate of Authenticity on
the spine of the retail box or on the cover of the manual
of products
delivered with a new PC.
|
Microsoft
Certificate
of
Authenticity
|
|
Software
or components that appear to be of poor quality including:
|
Back-up disks or CD-ROMs with handwritten labels
|
|
Watermark that is
simulated with ink on the surface or embossed
|
|
On
CDs for Microsoft operating system products, such as Windows� 2000,
Windows 98, and Windows NT� Workstation 4.0, as well as Microsoft
Office application products such as Office 2000, a 3-D hologram is
your guide to authenticity.
|
|
Low quality print,
letters that aren't evenly spaced, etc.
|
|
Windows
3-D hologram
|
|
Products marked with phrases
that do not describe the transaction, including:
|
�For distribution
with a new PC only�
|
|
�Special CD for
licensed customers only�
|
|
�Not for retail or
OEM distribution� or
|
|
�Academic price - not
for use in a commercial environment.�
|
*Note
that counterfeiters often use these types of phrases to fool consumers
into believing that they are getting genuine product that was overstocked
or otherwise deserves to be discounted.
|
Product marked �Not for retail
or OEM distribution�
|
| |
|
