The new program, called Office Genuine Advantage, will begin piloting today in seven languages: English, Brazilian Portuguese, Czech, Greek, Korean, simplified Chinese, Russian and Spanish.
The program identifies whether users have a genuine or counterfeit version of Microsoft Office installed.
Users download the program from Microsoft’s website and if they have a legitimate copy of Office, they will be able to receive software updates and enhancements, said Ashim Jaidka, Microsoft director of emerging markets. This includes access to sample Office files and tutorials.
Users with a counterfeit copy who can provide proof of purchase, can send in their fake Office program, along with a counterfeit report, and Microsoft will swap it out with a legitimate copy of Office 2003 Standard Edition, Jaidka said. But this offer is limited to just one copy per ship-to address.
However, the program will not affect companies that Office with volume licenses, Jaidka said. Customers using valid volume license keys – most customers in a corporate setting – will be validated automatically and receive their downloads, Jaidka said.
Jaidka also noted that Microsoft’s new program does not collect any information that can be used by Microsoft to identify or contact the user.
When an illegal copy of Office is sourced by Microsoft’s new program, Microsoft will advise users to return to the reseller who sold them the product and seek redress, Jaidka said.
For now, the program is just a pilot and Jaidka declined to specify when Microsoft plans to begin rolling it out in earnest.
While we have nothing further to announce at this time, we are absolutely committed to having Microsoft Office participate in the advantages of Microsoft’s overarching Genuine Software Initiative from a long-term, broad perspective as part of upcoming releases, Jaidka said, but have nothing further to discuss at this time.
Microsoft declined to say how many people would be piloting the new program.
