German police are chasing buyers of cheap Windows 10 licenses

[lexluthermiester]

No.. It's basically a porn block that you apparently need to pay a "license" to get a key for on porn sites. I'm not sure how it could possibly work though. Sounds like a mess.

Doesn't seem all that likely to work..

you guys completely overthink stuff that does not even happen on your continent.

there is literally nothing except a post from a weird website and a case of ONE Person that said something in a telegram group.


i checked every single news website and there is not even a mention in that direction.

To be fair, didn't actually look at the links as what was stated in the OP is not as bizarre as some of the other actions German government and law enforcement have been caught doing...

 

[GerKNG]

Doesn't seem all that likely to work..


To be fair, didn't actually look at the links as what was stated in the OP is not as bizarre as some of the other actions German government and law enforcement have been caught doing...

and that would be what?

 

[qubit]

There are numerous websites where relatively inexpensive license keys can be purchased for, for example, Microsoft Windows 10.
For a fraction of the suggested retail price, you can obtain a valid license. However, the source of the keys is often dubious or illegal.

According to sources, the German police will actively approach buyers of cheap license keys in hopes of accusing them of money laundering and copyright infringement.
Although the German authorities have not provided confirmation, several users have reportedly confirmed that they received similar subpoenas from the police after purchasing cheap Windows 10 product keys online from various websites. Some say the keys were bought many years ago, so it's not clear yet what the police will do with this new campaign.

For now, however, it's important to deal with this information with a fair amount of skepticism, especially since it's all based on reporting with no official statement about it.

Duitse politie gaat achter kopers aan van goedkope Windows 10-licenties

Er zijn tal van websites waar relatief goedkope licentiesleutels kunnen worden aangeschaft voor bijvoorbeeld Microsoft Windows 10. Voor een fractie van...

nl.hardware.info

Windows 10 Lizenzkeys: Staatsanwaltschaften verschicken Vorladungen

Noch immer erhalten Käufer von unseriösen Windows 10 Lizenzkeys von eBay & Co. Vorladungen für eine Aussage bei der örtlichen Polizei.

tarnkappe.info

Windows 10: Käufer von Billig-Keys werden zur Polizei vorgeladen

Es ist verlockend, wenn man für Windows nicht mehr als 100 Euro bezahlt, sondern sich auf eBay und Co. für einen Bruchteil davon einen Key holen kann. Doch die Quelle dieser Lizenzen ist meist dubios bis illegal und immer wieder ein Fall für die Staatsanwaltschaft.

winfuture.de

And here's the precise reason why I don't buy any of these keys. I wanna be able to sleep at night without worrying that the copyright gestapo might come knocking at my door one day.

To clarify, I feel no sympathy for a faceless corporate behemoth like Microsoft that has more money than it knows what to do with, so it's not a morality issue for me, but I will look out for number one by steering clear of this.

Great post, thanks for putting it up.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

When I built my Ryzen 5 1600 rig, we bought an OEM copy of Windows 10 from Central Computer for $99. Fast forward to last year when I built my 10700K rig. Tried using the same OEM W10 I had, and guess what? It wouldn't activate! So, I went to one of those key sites that TPU sponsors, bought a W10 Home key, linked it to my Microsoft account and it worked -- and still works now, with my 3600 rig, huzzah!

Also, I'm curious about that program the Tech Yes Aussie was using to see which form of Windows 10 his keys were for. What is it?

 

[StrayKAT]

When I built my Ryzen 5 1600 rig, we bought an OEM copy of Windows 10 from Central Computer for $99. Fast forward to last year when I built my 10700K rig. Tried using the same OEM W10 I had, and guess what? It wouldn't activate! So, I went to one of those key sites that TPU sponsors, bought a W10 Home key, linked it to my Microsoft account and it worked -- and still works now, with my 3600 rig, huzzah!

Also, I'm curious about that program the Tech Yes Aussie was using to see which form of Windows 10 his keys were for. What is it?

OEM is kind of a ripoff. It's tied to whatever hardware it's first installed on, I believe? The more expensive "retail" labeled version can be endlessly used.

 

[Makaveli]

I went OEM because I tend to keep my systems 5+ years.

Before going AM4 I was on socket 1366 for 10 years. So I don't change hardware enough for it to matter.

For those that change hardware alot I recommend going retail.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I went OEM because I tend to keep my systems 5+ years.

Before going AM4 I was on socket 1366 for 10 years. So I don't change hardware enough for it to matter.

For those that change hardware alot I recommend going retail.

This is actually really good advice.

OEM is kind of a ripoff. It's tied to whatever hardware it's first installed on, I believe?

Sort of. While that is defined to a degree in the EULA, that part of the EULA has already been determined to be unlawful(in the USA) as it requires the surrender of statutory rights that no contract can lawfully require the surrender of. The part of the OEM EULA that is enforceable is that an OEM license can only be used on one PC at any given time. Simply put, you are well within your rights to use an OEM key on a PC you've done a platform upgrade to(mobo, cpu, ram) as long as you are using it for only that system.

The more expensive "retail" labeled version can be endlessly used.

This is true and what is not well known, it can be used on any PC you personally own. Again because individual rights supersede the terms of any EULA.

 

[FireFox]

For those that change hardware alot I recommend going retail.

There's always a way around for almost everything, i have reused my OEM license in 3 different Builds

 

[freeagent]

I got mine for free straight from the source.. back when they were giving them away

Crazy stuff man. I thought they were legit keys too.. I bought my copy of office from a site that advertises specials here..

 

[StrayKAT]

This is actually really good advice.


Sort of. While that is defined to a degree in the EULA, that part of the EULA has already been determined to be unlawful(in the USA) as it requires the surrender of statutory rights that no contract can lawfully require the surrender of. The part of the OEM EULA that is enforceable is that an OEM license can only be used on one PC at any given time. Simply put, you are well within your rights to use an OEM key on a PC you've done a platform upgrade to(mobo, cpu, ram) as long as you are using it only that system.


This is true and what is not well known, it can be used on any PC you personally own. Again because individual rights supersede the terms of any EULA.

Legal or not, the hassle is still there and I've been technically locked out of using the key again. Since I don't have lawyers to challenge it, OEM Windows might as well be worthless for me.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Legal or not, the hassle is still there and I've been technically locked out of using the key again. Since I don't have lawyers to challenge it, OEM Windows might as well be worthless for me.

All you have to do is call Microsoft's phone activation center. I have never had them deny an activation for an OEM key. Ever. It takes all of 5 minutes to do.

 

[StrayKAT]

All you have to do is call Microsoft's phone activation center. I have never had them deny an activation for an OEM key. Ever. It takes all of 5 minutes to do.

It's Windows Home, and I've since moved on to Pro, so I haven't even bothered using it again. Maybe if I build some secondary machine I'll try again.

 

[Hachi_Roku256563]

All you have to do is call Microsoft's phone activation center. I have never had them deny an activation for an OEM key. Ever. It takes all of 5 minutes to do.

i had to call the microsoft line once
because my laptop had died and i had tried to bring windows across
backup and restore stlye and ofc it deactivated almost as soon as it booted
and even though it was a diffrent machine they reactivated for me

 

[Sybaris_Caesar]

Like I said before, just run Windows unactivated. Download the iso from the ESD thread here on TPU and just skip when it asks you to input the serial code. The watermark needs getting adjusted to but like everything that us buggy in W10, sometimes the watermark doesn't even show up.

I've been running unactivated for years at this point. You only lose some personalization and customization options.

 

[StrayKAT]

Like I said before, just run Windows unactivated. Download the iso from the ESD thread here on TPU and just skip when it asks you to input the serial code. The watermark needs getting adjusted to but like everything that us buggy in W10, sometimes the watermark doesn't even show up.

I've been running unactivated for years at this point. You only lose some personalization and customization options.

I've gotten too used to dark mode (you can't personalize unactivated windows), and actually like some things in their eco system (One Drive, Office, and Forza especially). But I'm probably a minority. Besides, if I'm not going to even use Windows to it's fullest, I'd just use Linux. I'd lose the MS games, but looks like I could get by with most other things. Lately I've been actually considering it, because billgates.exe has been reactivated. He's been acting like the same psychopathic Borg piece of shit he was in the 1990s.

 

[sepheronx]

This is still not as pathetic as UK's fapping license. I've been accused of being a prude myself, but come on.

I think I would be sent into the can for 20 - life if this law existed here.

 

[StrayKAT]

I think I would be sent into the can for 20 - life if this law existed here.

 

[sepheronx]

View attachment 190587

This is uh, my school project officer! I am learning about the female anatomy and how babies are made.

And this is just a hot dog in my hand.

On serious note though, I remember watching the video by Bryan at TechYes where he verified that the keys are legit and that MS doesn't care. So the German Police are being rather questionable on this. I can understand the Ebay key listings though.

Don't they have real issues to worry about though?

 

[lexluthermiester]

you can't personalize unactivated windows

Yes you can, I do it all the time. I always set Windows up and config it just right before I activate. Windows has a 30day grace period. It's been that way since Vista.

 

[Hardcore Games]

I have spoken to Microsoft about this and they are not worried about some peasant with a lower cost license than some big corporation that is not licensed properly

There are now over 1 billion using Windows 10 and many used windows 7 and 8 keys to upgrade with

 

[R-T-B]

Microsoft indeed does not care anymore.

They stopped caring when Russia started selectively reporting certain groups to Microsoft so they could then sue them out of existence. Funny, it was all opposition party and environmental watchdog groups though...

Turns out since basically everyone in Russia in this timeframe pirated windows, they were just reporting groups they did not like. No evidence required, it would come later certainly.

Have a read:

Russia Uses Microsoft to Suppress Dissent (Published 2010)

One of the authorities’ new tactics for quelling dissent in Russia is confiscating computers under the pretext of searching for pirated Microsoft software.

www.nytimes.com

When microsoft realized they were being used this way and it looked awful, they stopped actually meddling in license affairs, largely. Today if you hear a license case being prosecuted it is almost always overzealous police, rather than MS.

 

[StrayKAT]

Yes you can, I do it all the time. I always set Windows up and config it just right before I activate. Windows has a 30day grace period. It's been that way since Vista.

Wallpaper and everything is completely blocked out.

 

[Vayra86]

LOL

Right. Whats next, we get those yellow stars back from back when?!

Microsoft indeed does not care anymore.

They stopped caring when Russia started selectively reporting certain groups to Microsoft so they could then sue them out of existence. Funny, it was all opposition party and environmental watchdog groups though...

Turns out since basically everyone in Russia in this timeframe pirated windows, they were just reporting groups they did not like. No evidence required, it would come later certainly.

Have a read:

Russia Uses Microsoft to Suppress Dissent (Published 2010)

One of the authorities’ new tactics for quelling dissent in Russia is confiscating computers under the pretext of searching for pirated Microsoft software.

www.nytimes.com

When microsoft realized they were being used this way and it looked awful, they stopped actually meddling in license affairs, largely. Today if you hear a license case being prosecuted it is almost always overzealous police, rather than MS.

This.

 

[birdie]

I won't be surprised if it's found out that the rumor was started by either Microsoft or one of its official resellers who noticed a dip in earnings.

There's no way the police can go ahead with these charges as they will be thrown out of the court immediately.

 

[xtreemchaos]

i thought thay have done away with the you need to activate 30 day thingy cos its been over 3 months since i installed without a key and nothings come up and i downloaded this copy straight from MS and everythings working "touch wood".