[ILUG] It's "illegal" to remove Windows from your PC !!

[Matt Rudge]

> Quoting ger (gerdono at eircom.net):
> 
> > It is illegal to sell/donate/transfer ownership of  a PC 
> without passing on 
> > any OEM software which was originally supplied with it.
> 
> Please cite the statute.  EU, Ireland, or other.
> 

No statute - it's just that M$ want there to be.  There was an article about
this on The Register way back in Dec 2000:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/14955.html

There was also a follow-up, which I can't put my hands on, which told all PC
resellers to inform Microsoft if someone requested a PC without an OS. 

The funniest bits are the dire warnings, and I quote: "If you allow your
customers to buy Naked PCs - placing them at risk of acquiring pirated
operating systems elsewhere - you expose them to legal risks, viruses, and
frustrating technical troubles."

Surely more legal risks, viruses and frustrating technical problems come
from installing M$ operating systems!!

Matt