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Engadget reports that Eric Lundgren, who ordered unauthorized copies of Microsoft Windows, has lost in appeals court. He had received a 15-month prison sentence and $50,000 fine.
From Engadget:
Lundgren realized that people were simply discarding old computers and buying new ones, rather than trying to restore Windows. He decided to begin manufacturing restore CDs that could be sold to computer repair shops for a quarter each.
[...] However, things began to go downhill after US Customs got ahold of a shipment of these disks in 2012. They charged Lundgren with conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, as well as criminal copyright infringement. The premise here was that Lundgren was providing users with a copy of the Windows operating system on these restore disks, but that was untrue. The users needed to have a previously purchased license, or the restore disks wouldn't work.
[...] While Lundgren argued that these disks had zero value, Microsoft claimed (through a letter and an expert witness) that these were "counterfeit operating systems" and that they had the potential to hurt Microsoft's sales. The pricing was set at $25 a piece, which was what Microsoft claimed it charged repair shops for these disks. The catch here is that this is the price for a fully licensed operating system, not Lundgren's version.
From The Verge:
Microsoft issued this statement to The Verge on the ruling:
"Microsoft actively supports efforts to address e-waste and has worked with responsible e-recyclers to recycle more than 11 million kilograms of e-waste since 2006. Unlike most e-recyclers, Mr. Lundgren sought out counterfeit software which he disguised as legitimate and sold to other refurbishers. This counterfeit software exposes people who purchase recycled PCs to malware and other forms of cybercrime, which puts their security at risk and ultimately hurts the market for recycled products."
The Right to Repair has been hotly debated in recent months, particularly because California proposed a law that would require electronics manufacturers to make repair information and parts available to product owners and to third-party repair shops and services. Seventeen other states have proposed similar legislation. Most major tech companies, including Apple and Microsoft, are opposed to the idea of letting users fix their own devices on the grounds that it poses a security risk to users, which we can see in Microsoft's above statement. Although as Lundgren's case demonstrates, the companies are likely more concerned over a loss in profit than anything else.
(Score: 4, Informative) by c0lo on Thursday April 26 2018, @07:30AM (4 children)
I got spoiled by good editors that would add a "Prev stories on Soylentnews" set of links and it seems I start to ask inconvenient questions when those are missing.
E.g.: ‘E-Waste’ Recycling Innovator Faces Prison for Trying to Extend Life Span of PCs (Feb 19 2018) [soylentnews.org]
A bit more detailed about the case, in which one of the reasons [soylentnews.org] for dropping the hammer on mr. Lundgren was related with
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 4, Informative) by realDonaldTrump on Thursday April 26 2018, @07:45AM (3 children)
You think it's missing, it looks like it's missing. Right? It's not missing. It's the second link. But, TERRIBLE submitter & editor didn't say Previous. Very confusing. Need better editors & submitters!
(Score: 0, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 26 2018, @01:08PM (2 children)
Mr. President, who do you recommend for the editor role to help lead the present and groom others for the future? Maybe the Soylent board of directors can use some professional outside assistance! You know how to run a business and a country, so I think your vote matters here!
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by realDonaldTrump on Thursday April 26 2018, @02:16PM (1 child)
I said it would be great if The Mighty Buzzard became Editor. Because he can tell when stories are Fake News. Like the story about coral "bleaching." Sounds like something a pornstar does, it's not.
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 26 2018, @02:33PM
Well, we know that you know all about porn stars, right?