software licensing Archives

Tech Optimizer

September 11, 2026

Tom Lane on the Architectural Decisions That Shaped 30 Years of Postgres

Tom transitioned from image processing to database management, particularly contributing to the Postgres project. He was part of a group that created an open-source implementation of JPEG, leading to the development of libjpeg, where he served as the principal maintainer for about five years. NASA's Perseverance rover uses libjpeg, a fact discovered by Joe Conway through research. Tom noted that the widespread adoption of JPEG was due to its efficient compression and the availability of a free implementation, which aided its integration into early web browsers. His interest in Postgres was influenced by its liberal licensing model, similar to that of libjpeg. Tom's commitment to open-source projects stems from his passion for collaborative software development, which began during his graduate studies in the 1980s. His PhD focused on software architecture, shaping his approach to both image processing and database management.

Winsage

August 13, 2026

Windows License Price Hike: Microsoft Raises OEM Fees

Microsoft will increase licensing fees for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) by an average of 7% to 10% starting in July 2026. This increase will particularly affect larger manufacturers with significant volume orders and is expected to lead to a price hike of approximately 3% to 5% for pre-built systems. The licensing fee structure varies based on hardware tiering, volume discounts, and pre-installed software agreements. Individual builders purchasing standalone retail licenses for Windows 11 will not see any price changes. Consumers buying new laptops or pre-built desktops may notice subtle price adjustments as manufacturers adjust to the increased costs.

Winsage

August 10, 2026

Microsoft reportedly pours fuel on PC pricing flames as it implements a ‘significant increase’ for Windows 11 licenses

Microsoft has increased the price of Windows 11 licenses for PC manufacturers by approximately 7% to 10% as of last month, affecting companies like Acer and Asus. This price hike occurs amidst rising costs in the PC market, particularly for RAM and other components, but has not elicited significant reactions from consumers or businesses.

Winsage

July 23, 2026

Microsoft making a new feature mandatory requirement for Windows KMS activation

Microsoft has introduced enhancements to its Windows operating system security, including an update to Entra ID authentication with default passkeys and AI-enhanced security updates. A key advancement is the KMS Hardware-Secured initiative, which uses Trusted Platform Module (TPM)-based attestation to ensure KMS hosts operate on trusted hardware for Windows volume activation. This aims to combat risks from counterfeit KMS servers. Under the new model, KMS hosts will confirm their hardware identity using TPM before activating Windows devices. Starting in August 2026, Windows Server 2025 will provide readiness messaging for KMS host compliance with new security requirements. TPM attestation will be mandatory for KMS Hardware-Secured activation with the upcoming Windows Server 2028 LTSC release. Organizations are advised to prepare for this transition.

Winsage

July 10, 2026

You can’t fully disable Microsoft’s GDID Windows 11 tracker, but these settings limit what it captures

A 19-year-old named Peter Stokes was detained at Helsinki airport in April 2026 while traveling to Japan, carrying two 2TB hard drives. He was subject to an Interpol Red Notice and faced a federal complaint from U.S. prosecutors by July for his alleged involvement in the Scattered Spider hacking group, which breached a U.S. luxury jewelry retailer in May 2025, leading to a ransom demand. The Global Device Identifier (GDID), developed by Microsoft, is a persistent identifier that uniquely identifies a Windows installation on a device. It links online activities back to a single identity, which law enforcement can use to trace a device's owner. The GDID is generated when a user signs into Windows with a Microsoft Account and remains through updates but does not survive a clean reinstall. Stokes' use of the same Windows device allowed investigators to trace his activities through the GDID, which linked him to the hacking incident. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the lack of consent for GDID assignment and the potential for surveillance.

Winsage

May 28, 2026

InPost locker caught shipping unactivated Windows

An InPost locker in High Wycombe displayed an "Activate Windows" message, indicating it was running an unactivated version of Windows. InPost, a Polish logistics company, operates over 14,000 automated lockers in the UK for parcel drop-off and collection. The incident highlights potential issues with software compatibility and the need for regular updates, as the locker may be vulnerable to bugs without activation.

Winsage

May 15, 2026

ON THIS DAY: Microsoft offers an olive branch for users of ‘Non-Genuine’ Windows PCs to get a Windows 10 upgrade

On this day 11 years ago, Microsoft extended full Windows 10 upgrades to non-genuine Windows PCs, marking a shift in its strategy to prioritize a unified Windows ecosystem over strict licensing enforcement. Earlier in the same year, Microsoft announced that owners of licensed Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs could upgrade to Windows 10 for free within a year of its launch, and later allowed users of unlicensed versions to upgrade as well, although they would still be using unlicensed software. This decision aimed to consolidate users onto a secure platform, enhancing security and fostering a cohesive ecosystem.

Winsage

April 23, 2026

Microsoft faces court battle in £2bn Windows Server class action

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has approved a £2 billion class action against Microsoft, aimed at compensating approximately 59,000 businesses using the Windows Server operating system in non-Microsoft public clouds. The collective action, led by Maria Luisa Stasi, alleges that Microsoft has overcharged UK entities for Windows Server on competing cloud services. The tribunal dismissed Microsoft's objections and granted a Collective Proceedings Order on an opt-out basis. The class action addresses two main issues: pricing abuse related to the Microsoft Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) and re-licensing abuse concerning the deployment of Windows Server on Azure versus other cloud providers. The UK Competition and Markets Authority is also investigating Microsoft's software licensing practices within the cloud market. James Hain-Cole from law firm Scott+Scott expressed satisfaction with the tribunal's decision, emphasizing its significance for securing compensation for affected businesses.

Winsage

April 22, 2026

“For years, Microsoft’s practices have had real financial impact on both public and private organizations” – Microsoft faces new legal challenge over licensing practices

Microsoft is facing a £2 billion lawsuit in the UK, led by competition lawyer Maria Luisa Stasi, representing nearly 60,000 businesses that claim the company imposes excessive charges for using Windows Server on competing cloud platforms. The allegations focus on higher licensing fees for organizations using services like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Alibaba Cloud compared to those using Microsoft’s Azure. The lawsuit has been allowed to proceed on an opt-out basis by the Tribunal. Microsoft plans to appeal the decision and asserts that its business model promotes competition. The case is part of broader scrutiny of Microsoft's licensing practices, with investigations also initiated by the UK Competition and Markets Authority and the European Commission, as well as inquiries in Brazil, Switzerland, the United States, and Japan.

Winsage

March 4, 2026

Stolen Office and Windows keys land Florida woman with 22 months in prison

Heidi Richards has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for trafficking stolen Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity (COA) labels through her e-commerce business, "Trinity Software Distribution." She has also been ordered to pay a ,000 fine. The COA labels are issued by Microsoft to verify software authenticity and are not meant to be sold separately. Between July 2018 and January 2023, Richards and her associates procured tens of thousands of genuine Windows 10 and Microsoft Office COA labels, generating ,148,181.50 in revenue by selling extracted product key codes globally.