Most people are familiar with Microsoft’s Windows Genuine Advantage program—whenever you have to “validate” Windows, that’s WGA in action. Since there is no copy protection on OS X, lifelong Mac users might be unfamiliar with this whole idea. Don’t worry, it looks like you might get acquainted real soon! Apple has a new patent called “Run-Time Code Injection To Perform Checks” (sounds cold and medical, no?), that’s pretty much exactly like WGA. And it’s all because you’ve been breaking promises to Apple!
So here’s the deal: There’s an initial check that okays software to run on a particular hardware platform. (Like OS X on your Mac.) Then there are periodic checks to make sure the software is still running on the kosher platform. If it’s all shiksa, the software’s execution string is stopped cold, killing the application. Vista pulls the same neat trick, keeling over if WGA says it’s not the real deal (even when it sometimes is).
OS X is name-dropped in the patent app, so while it could be just about keeping it off non-Macs, this bit in the “background” section of the application’s pretty illuminating, given the lack of copy protection on OS X currently:
The application owner may, of course, require the user to promise not to copy, distribute or use the application on another platform as part of the transaction by which the user obtains their copy. Such promises are, however, easy to make and easy to break.
Aw, looks like Apple doesn’t trust Mac users as much as they trust Apple. Broken hearts all around! [Patent Office via InfoWeek]
Ben Anderson
Friday, December 28, 2007 at 8:30 PMDon’t do it Apple! The reason Windows has WGA is because people don’t wanna pay money for crappy Microsoft products. Apple software on the other hand is worth the money you charge for it. I find Apple charges very fair prices for it’s products worth the money and I love the addition of family packs. Why should I have to buy five copies of the same piece of software?
sanousy
Friday, February 6, 2009 at 6:36 AMNot a big deal, Microsoft owes Apple for the whole GUI interface, and the mouse, and the meta button on the keyboard, and most of the software style currently running in MS windows originally has been designed by Apple, event the keyboard shortcuts, and Eile menu, and Edit menu!! even the window title bar, and close box, and control box, and the desktop, the icons, the folders!!! even meta+B to make font bold!!
the strange thing that Apple did not start the patent war on microsoft although the latter started a big war to guard its interface/Kernel!! from cloning!!