Microsoft Registration Wizard

Anyone following the interactions of copyright and shrinkwrap software licensing should be aware of plans by Microsoft for Office 2000. My understanding (a bit hazy, since Microsoft hasn't released details) is that Microsoft is planning to include a "registration wizard" that you must run when you install the new version of Office (expected ship date: Q3 1999). This wizard is designed to enforce the terms of the EULA (the Microsoft shrink wrap license). I believe (but am not sure) that the plan is to have the wizard send hardware configuration information to Microsoft, and to disallow use of the software after the 50th startup unless registration was successful, to disallow reinstallation of the software if the hardware changes substantially, etc.

JQ Johnson                      office: 115F Knight Library
Academic Education Coordinator  email: jqj[_at_]darkwing.uoregon.edu
1299 University of Oregon       phone: 1-541-346-1746  -3485 fax
Eugene, OR  97403-1299          http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~jqj/