Over 36% of software in the world is pirated. Out of this, over 50% is due to what Microsoft calls "casual copying". We all know what this is and in some insignificant way, at one time or another most users have participated in it. It has nothing to do with "cracking" software or disk cloning. It is simply the act of installing the same piece of software from its installation disks on more computers than your EULA allows. This could be something like loaning it to a friend or even just installing the same software on two computers in your home or office.
In order to combat this prevalent occurrence, Microsoft introduced a technology they call Product Activation into their Office XP software earlier this year. The product would allow users to launch it up to 50 times before requiring an activation code to be sent to Microsoft over the Internet (Users could activate at anytime before that as well). Now the latest version of their flagship consumer OS, Windows XP, includes similar functionality.
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