For those of you who haven't followed the reports, it would appear Microsoft may have used a cracked version of SoundForge to create some of the sound files available on copies of Windows XP.

If you navigate to your "Windows\Help\Tours\WindowsMediaPlayer\Audio\Wav" directory, you'll find a few WAV files that, when opened in Notepad, have the following metadata at the bottom of the file:

"LISTB INFOICRD 2000-04-06 IENG Deepz0ne ISFT Sound Forge 4.5"

Link to image provided for those that don't use Windows.

The "Deepz0ne" name actually belongs to a member of Radium, a now defunct audio software cracking group of the late 90's. They apparently still meet on a regular basis and have known about this for some time. They pitched the idea to PCWelt.de who took a look at the WAVs and posted the story later on the same day it was posed. PCWelt.de claims other motives (MacWelt.de) for doing the research, but inside sources have argued otherwise.

While it is not quite clear on whether the original Sound Forge developers or Sony will be able to file suit for the copyright infringement, the "creation date" of the WAV files, 8/29/2002, would appear to indicate that the original developers could claim copyright infringement since they were not bought out till 2003, and if they decline, Sony may.

On other points of note, Microsoft most likely outsourced the development of the Windows Media Player Tour to Indian software companies. The timeframe seems to match and is also justified by the fact that large amounts of overseas software including Windows, is often pirated. In fact, the majority of computers assembled locally in India are overwhelmingly sold with pirated editions of Windows. Microsoft released an XP-Lite version in order to help combat software piracy in that country just a few months ago.

LOL very true . Here we get new pc's with any OS we want but 100% pirated . Even the high profiled companies use programs with keygens from all crack sites .But its for sure once anti-piracy laws are strengthened here then windows will have no market and LINUX will rule .
$1= ~Rs.52
$150=Rs.7800

Cost of new pc wwith all hardware = ~Rs.20000

So no one will buy new original xp instead people will switch to linux


btw didnt knew abt XP lite hindi version . gonna try that out .

Lool Vicky

Heres one news on NOV 17th...

Piracy fear: Microsoft rules out XBox launch

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2004 06:42:11 AM ]

NEW DELHI: Piracy, piracy, piracy. That seemed to be the top concern of the flamboyant Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, visiting India after a gap of nine years.

So deep was Ballmer's concern over software piracy that he ruled out the release of Microsoft's gaming hardware device XBox anytime soon in India, for the fear of its games - software on which the company actually makes money- being duplicated, making the company lose millions.

''We don't have XBox in India because piracy is too high,'' said Ballmer in an interview with The Times of India.

''It is not just us, the competition (Sony) doesn't serve the market either.''

Ballmer said even the growth of Microsoft's business here, which is still small (about Rs 700-800 crore) compared to its global revenues, would depend in part on how effectively piracy is dealt with.

He said Microsoft's business could grow about 2.5-3 times over the next 3 years. ''Our business can grow here. But number one wild card factor is software piracy here is very, very high. Not as high as China but very high,'' said Ballmer.

Even the COPs, at home, well, they use Pirated Copies..!!

Manu

Exactly !
Piracy is so high that even in all governemnt offices also there is a windows 98 or xp which is pirated .

In indian companies either machines are pirated or it is linux .
Intelligent people never waste money on microsoft