Updated Microsoft EULA Could Disable Pirated Software

It seems that in a recent update to Microsoft’s Services EULA, there has been some suggestion that with the update, Microsoft could effectively disable pirated software it detects running on your computer. It reads, “We may automatically check your version of the software and download software updates or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware peripheral devices.”

While piracy of games and software has been largely left to individual developers to try and work it out, this change to Microsoft’s EULA could help speed things up a bit. Now before you get a bit too worked up about how potentially authoritarian Microsoft is being with Windows 10, it might not be as bad as you think.

According to a post on Windows Central, they note that the EULA update might only apply to Xbox Live and Windows Store content. This is because the EULA is for Microsoft Services which is a different EULA than Microsoft’s Software License Terms which is used for Windows 10. That being said we guess the legal wording did make it a bit confusing, although Microsoft has to clarify these changes.

That being said you probably shouldn’t be running pirated software on your computer anyway, but if you do, there is a chance that Microsoft may or may not be able to scan for it and disable it from being used.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Computers
Tags: Microsoft, Piracy, Windows 10