View Full Version : Questionable way to get Vista - is this legal?
On quite big finnish forum, I found few links to Vista Ultimate images/installers - the forums are moderated, and part of a big company (Eniro)
Now, the site itself is legit, it's called DigitalRiver, at least based on the URL
(all the urls start http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net), the company seems to be selling some sort of online delivery systems for big companies, and Microsoft is listed as a customer to them.
But - is downloading Vista from such source legal or not? To me it seems more like security problem with DigitalRiver rather than legal source, but since you still would need your licence key, it's a bit of a grey zone to me
It's probably some kind of Microsoft Software Alliance thing.
It's probably some kind of Microsoft Software Alliance thing.
Yes, something like that most likely, but the point is that those download links are nowhere to be found on the site or anything like that, but direct links to the files work fine, so likely they're meant for paying customers, but due someone not thinking things through, anyone can access them
Even if you can download Vista, don't you still have to activate it?
Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.
13-Sep-2007, 16:04
IIRC, I've bought stuff from Digital River before. They've been around a long time and are a digital content delivery/payment system.
Yeah downloading an iso image or whatever of Vista doesn't really get you very far without a valid key.
Rainbow Man
13-Sep-2007, 18:05
But - is downloading Vista from such source legal or not?
Probably not.
Eveni f your neighbor's house is unlocked and the door's open you'll still be guilty of trespass if you'll go inside uninvited.
So it's likely the same here. You don't neccessarily have the right to download stuff just because you got hold of a URL somewhere. Or well..that's what my amateur-lawyewr-sense tells me anyway. :lol:
Peacxe.
Probably not.
Eveni f your neighbor's house is unlocked and the door's open you'll still be guilty of trespass if you'll go inside uninvited.
So it's likely the same here. You don't neccessarily have the right to download stuff just because you got hold of a URL somewhere. Or well..that's what my amateur-lawyewr-sense tells me anyway. :lol:
Peacxe.
Indeed, that's what I'm thinking myself.
Though, I'm running legit Vista anyway so it doesn't really change anything on my perspective
When I have used Microsoft Software Alliance websites, I have always had to use a custom download manager from the site. The download manager would decrypt the downloaded iso.
It is weird that there are direct links to the images..
When I have used Microsoft Software Alliance websites, I have always had to use a custom download manager from the site. The download manager would decrypt the downloaded iso.
It is weird that there are direct links to the images..
The files are as straight .WIM images
It seems to me that so long as they are faithful copies and require activation and a legit MS key, then I'm not seeing the problem. Not any different than a Windows Anytime Upgrade disc, surely? Now, if those files are cracked in some manner, or OEM/enterprise files of some sort that don't require a unique key/activation, or if you intend to do something naughty with them after downloading (like cracking, using some keygen, or something like that), then those actions would be illegal and unethical.
Tho I suppose that would lead to the obvious question. . . what DO you intend to do with those files after you download them, eh? :grin:
Obviously he will burn them to disc and place them in the centre of his bill gates shrine :D
Obviously he will burn them to disc and place them in the centre of his bill gates shrine :D
:lol:
Yeah, I'll do that :lol:
No, I was just wondering this on general terms (and partly, as moderator on another forum), I'm not downloading them myself, only tested that the alleged links do actually work (as in, at least the download begins)
Well, it seems to me the ethically questionable part might be more likely what you're doing to Digital River (using their bw and downloading files they seem to have intended not be publicly available) rather than what you're doing to MS.
I've seen those links making the rounds since back in March. MS is already giving anyone that really wants them about 57 different ways to get install media for free (or a nominal fee) without being illegal, so I don't really see a big issue with a 'leaked' (if that's what it is) direct link.
Albuquerque
15-Sep-2007, 01:04
Yeah, Microsoft's stance on the OS is a bit more relaxed (in some ways) than it used to be.
You can essentially install any flavor of Vista "for free" for 30 days. There's EULA restrictions against continued reinstallations, but evaluation is allowed.
As such, just as has been mentioned prior, the media probably isn't an issue. So long as it isn't cracked somehow, I doubt it's illegal.
Things only start getting weird when you want to buy a computer with XP instead of Vista. Like most businesses want.
First, from about now, you can't. You can't even buy an XP CD anymore, unless the company still has a stock, or you buy a media set. Which is the same as any old XP CD, except that Microsoft doesn't allow you to sell those anymore unless they're called media sets.
Which you'll need to downgrade your Vista-equipped computer, and you have to buy one with the right validation model, if you don't already own one. I know companies that don't, because they always got XP preinstalled, mostly without a disk kit or at the most a vendor-locked OEM one. And that won't work.
So, if you want to run Windows XP on your newly bought PC/laptop, it has to carry at least Vista Business, you have to own or buy an XP Pro media set, and you have to call Microsoft for a new key and activation. ANd there is no legal way to automate that, like when you buy a hundred new computers a month. Home users simpy have to suck it up and use Vista.
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