Over the last couple of days, rumors have circulated thick and fast that Microsoft introduced a clause to its Service Agreement that allows it to disable pirated games and illegal hardware it detects operating on Windows 10. This is flat out misinformation, yet many are already taking it as fact.
The PGM, one of many news sites to give credibility to the rumor, quotes Microsoft’s Service Agreement, Section 7.b. which states (emphasis added):
“Sometimes you’ll need software updates to keep using the Services. We may automatically check your version of the software and download software updates or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware peripheral devices.”
PGM’s source, an Alphr article, claimed from this excerpt that “Microsoft has practically baked DRM into the core of Windows 10”. Let’s examine why this isn’t accurate.
Microsoft’s Service Agreement, published back in June, doesn’t’ actually apply to Windows 10. In fact, the Agreement goes one step further and specifically identifies what the Agreement includes – under Covered Services – and Windows 10 still isn’t listed. Of the app and services that are listed, the Xbox consoles are among them.
This means that, where the Agreement is referencing pirated games as above, it is actually referring to the Xbox consoles – which makes sense because neither Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo allow pirated games on their consoles.
DRM and piracy are both touchy subjects around the internet, so be sure to do all the research next time they come up in conversation, especially where video games are involved.