Microsoft Corp. is offering computer makers prizes including Fossil watches and barbecue grills to tattle on companies that try to order machines without the Windows operating system.
THE UNUSUAL OFFER was made last week by a regional unit of the software company, in an e-mail message sent to thousands of large and small companies that assemble personal computers. Microsoft verified the authenticity of the message, but said it was simply a response to confusion among some corporate customers about their rights under licensing agreements with Microsoft.
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