>>>>I don't think any one is arguing that MS shouldn't combat pirating.
>>>
>>>I'm lost in this thread. But I got it figured out now and see where you replied to the same message twice and I thought it was to the second question. Sorry bout that.
>>
>>Puts you one up on my, Mike. I still can't figure out what's being said. As close as I've come (and pardon me for over-simplifying) but...People are stealing the software. MS does something to curb that. Other people are pissed at MS for doing so. If that's right (and that's about the best I can make of it), I don't get it. I'd be pissed at the morally and ethically bankrupt people who are doing it (stealing the stoftware) in the first place.
>
>George!!! Wake up!!
>
>Nobody has yet, in this whole thread, condoned in any way the theft of software of any kind.

And I never said anyone was. My point was and is that ire that people are expressing may be mis-placed.

>The people arguing here (I'm sure for myself and can infer from what others have written) do properly license all of their software.
>
>They resent being treated like common thieves when they have been loyal and honest licensees for all of these years.

I can understand that. However, as stated above, the root cause for this is that some unscrupulous individuals are the reason for this.

>That may well be acceptable to you, as well as Mike, but as you can see, there are others who are disturbed.

I'm not pleased by the actions either. I just prefer to lay the blame where I think it properly belongs.

>And MS may get an unexpected surprise from this when many of those who are offended decide that the time to split from the MS apron-strings has come.

People have that right. Make their choices with their pocketbooks/wallets. Certainly, Microsoft will take notice in that case.