Microsoft has confirmed that users wanting to upgrade to Windows 10 from pirated versions of the OS can pay to go legit.
According to a blog post by Microsoft’s VP of operating systems Terry Myerson, the company will offer a special upgrade fee for dodgy software.
That’s in contrast to users operating legitimate versions of Windows, who will be given the upgrade to Windows 10 entirely free of charge.
“When we can’t verify that Windows is properly installed, licensed, and not tampered with, we create a desktop watermark to notify the user,” wrote Myerson.
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Myerson then explained: “In addition, in partnership with some of our valued OEM partners, we are planning very attractive Windows 10 upgrade offers for their customers running one of their older devices in a Non-Genuine state.”
Related: Best Windows 10 Laptops and Tablets
Unfortunately, he didn’t detail exactly what price we can expect from these ‘very attractive’ offers.
If Microsoft wants to win over the huge number of software pirates in China, it will have to offer a very low price indeed.
It’s a sensible move by Microsoft however, as more legitimate users on Windows means more potential revenue from the Windows Store.
Upgrade fees will also act as a solid standalone money-spinner for Microsoft, although we’ll have to wait for exact pricing to determine how much cash the company will rake in.
Do you think Microsoft should charge to upgrade to Windows 10 from pirated software? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
