J
jimrgraham
Anyone seen this? And if so, what can I do
C
Clive Huggan
Hello Jim,
Come on, you're kidding us aren't you?: you say you "*bought* Office 2008
beta"! If you're telling the truth you have been absolutely *conned*.
There has been no public beta release of Office 2008, for sale or otherwise.
Therefore, your copy of a beta MUST have been stolen. It originated,
ultimately, in someone violating the terms of their non-disclosure agreement
with Microsoft. That is rather serious. There may be legal consequences of
acquiring such a copy and you may well feel obliged to report the seller to
Microsoft. I know I would.
You should remove this illegal copy immediately from your computer. Like
the rest of us, you'll be able to buy a legal copy of the released product
early in the new year.
As Bob Jones said in a related post at microsoft.public.mac.office.word,
before you remove the software you should first "re-save any files you've
generated in the Beta's format to one that's compatible with a currently
legitimate version of the programs. Otherwise you may never get into those
files again even if you eventually obtain a legal copy of 2008 when it
ships... It's not unusual for the released product to not support their own
prior beta formats."
[I am not a Microsoft employee.]
Cheers,
Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from North America and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
============================================================
Come on, you're kidding us aren't you?: you say you "*bought* Office 2008
beta"! If you're telling the truth you have been absolutely *conned*.
There has been no public beta release of Office 2008, for sale or otherwise.
Therefore, your copy of a beta MUST have been stolen. It originated,
ultimately, in someone violating the terms of their non-disclosure agreement
with Microsoft. That is rather serious. There may be legal consequences of
acquiring such a copy and you may well feel obliged to report the seller to
Microsoft. I know I would.
You should remove this illegal copy immediately from your computer. Like
the rest of us, you'll be able to buy a legal copy of the released product
early in the new year.
As Bob Jones said in a related post at microsoft.public.mac.office.word,
before you remove the software you should first "re-save any files you've
generated in the Beta's format to one that's compatible with a currently
legitimate version of the programs. Otherwise you may never get into those
files again even if you eventually obtain a legal copy of 2008 when it
ships... It's not unusual for the released product to not support their own
prior beta formats."
[I am not a Microsoft employee.]
Cheers,
Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from North America and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
============================================================
C
CyberTaz
In full support of Clive here, but I wouldn't remove the software just yet
if you *do* (as you most certainly **should**) report the issue to MS - They
may want to retrieve identifying information from the pirated beta.
Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac
if you *do* (as you most certainly **should**) report the issue to MS - They
may want to retrieve identifying information from the pirated beta.
Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac
J
Jim Gordon MVP
Hi,
As the others have pointed out, if you purchased this software you were
conned. Office 2008 for Mac has not yet been released, so any copies out
there are pirated.
You were encouraged to report the problem to Microsoft, but weren't given
information about how to go about doing so. Here's the information you need
to report the problem software:
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/reporting/default.aspx
If you purchased the software locally you might also wish to contact local
law enforcement, as a crime was committed against you.
-Jim
--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP
MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info
As the others have pointed out, if you purchased this software you were
conned. Office 2008 for Mac has not yet been released, so any copies out
there are pirated.
You were encouraged to report the problem to Microsoft, but weren't given
information about how to go about doing so. Here's the information you need
to report the problem software:
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/reporting/default.aspx
If you purchased the software locally you might also wish to contact local
law enforcement, as a crime was committed against you.
-Jim
--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP
MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info
J
Jim Graham
For those who are wondering... You CAN purchase the Beta at this website
which I did do. In the past, Parallels Beta was available for sale also...
The website is: http://fer.cnyoemdv.com/?1B8C740A89C2B0C27F4443A483334E&t0
I have purchased many other MS software titles from this site and they
activate normally.
which I did do. In the past, Parallels Beta was available for sale also...
The website is: http://fer.cnyoemdv.com/?1B8C740A89C2B0C27F4443A483334E&t0
I have purchased many other MS software titles from this site and they
activate normally.
B
Ben
Also the web site as good as tells you it is pirated, if you look atJolly said:
their terms and conditions you find the following:
2.3. You cannot register the software with the manufacturer and updates
are available not for all the products;
2.4. You do not receive printed license documentation;
2.5. You do not receive a copy of the software on a disk.
2.6. The Store will assist the Customer with downloading and
installation issues. We will not provide technical support after the
software product is downloaded and installed; neither will it be
available from the manufacturer of the software product.
I think this makes it very clear that this is Warez !!
Also NeoTrace shows the site to be based in China, just across the water
from Hong Kong.
J
John McGhie
Hi Jim:
Let's be a little realistic, shall we? You can "pay money to some crook for
a beta version of Microsoft software". That's like buying a stolen camera
in a pub. Paying money for something that is stolen in the first place is
not the same as "buying" it.
When you buy something, you get the legal right to use it.
You have paid money for the right to go to jail
As Jolly Rodger said:
not to bright
In this case, I advise anyone who has a copy of Office 2008 to get it off
their machine SOON.
It may APPEAR to "activate normally", but I also know that if you allow it
to do so, you WILL regret it
Surely you are winding us up? Surely you do not actually believe that the
largest software company in the world is going to issue beta versions of
(what may be the next release of) its software in such a condition that they
can be safely cracked? Really?
I cannot understand why anyone who sets out to steal from a company that has
a larger security team than many police forces, thinks it's a good idea to
post announcing the fact, to a server owned by that company! Did I miss a
news report? Has the H5N1 Chicken Flu virus finally mutated to a "Darwin
Virus"? (The Darwin Award is given posthumously to the person who finds the
stupidest way to remove themselves from the gene pool each year...)
Cheers
--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/
Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.
John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Australia
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]
Let's be a little realistic, shall we? You can "pay money to some crook for
a beta version of Microsoft software". That's like buying a stolen camera
in a pub. Paying money for something that is stolen in the first place is
not the same as "buying" it.
When you buy something, you get the legal right to use it.
You have paid money for the right to go to jail
As Jolly Rodger said:not to bright
In this case, I advise anyone who has a copy of Office 2008 to get it off
their machine SOON.
It may APPEAR to "activate normally", but I also know that if you allow it
to do so, you WILL regret it
Surely you are winding us up? Surely you do not actually believe that the
largest software company in the world is going to issue beta versions of
(what may be the next release of) its software in such a condition that they
can be safely cracked? Really?
I cannot understand why anyone who sets out to steal from a company that has
a larger security team than many police forces, thinks it's a good idea to
post announcing the fact, to a server owned by that company! Did I miss a
news report? Has the H5N1 Chicken Flu virus finally mutated to a "Darwin
Virus"? (The Darwin Award is given posthumously to the person who finds the
stupidest way to remove themselves from the gene pool each year...)
Cheers
--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/
Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.
John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Australia
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]
E
emmagrant
John,
I have a strong respect for software companies as I have been a software
developer for many years.
Before passing judgment on my previous posts(for the benefit of me and
others), review the facts. Keep in mind, I have no benefit to posting other
than solving my own issue.
1) MS Office 2008 Beta WAS being sold on the website I posted previously.
2) The website which the software was available currently offers 40
Microsoft titles for sale, many Adobe titles, Macromedia titles, and Google,
to name just a few. I'm certain that if the website were not legitimate, MS
and Google would have eaten them for lunch a long time ago.
3) Previously, I have purchased copies of MS Windows Vista and have
actually spoken directly with MS regarding validation of MS Windows Vista.
MS supported my validation issues without issue.
4) I purchased and downloaded MS Office for MAC 2008 and received order
confirmation from MICROSOFT, not just the website. While I¹m not a fan of
paying for a Beta version of a product, I have paid for other Beta products
in the past. Below is my actual order confirmation from Microsoft:
***********************************************
Please keep this e-mail for your records.
***********************************************
Microsoft has received your order and it is being processed.
Ordered From : Office for Mac - Holiday Offer
Order Number : XXXXXXXXXX
Order Date : November 9, 2007 6:36:35 PM
To view the current status of your order or to get your order detailsplease
visithttps://om.one.MICROSOFT.COM/opa/start.ors?StoreId=0c60a865-5a6e-4ec2...
364ee94629e&LocaleCode=en-us&ReceiptID=3FF9063D-D9E8-4742-8D00-6F9777D1B003
***********************************************
Do not reply to this e-mail. This message was sent to you using an automated
system. This e-mail alias is not monitored for replies. If you need help,
please contact us through one of the methods described below.
***********************************************
If you have questions about your order you may send inquiries to:
(e-mail address removed) and allow 24 hrs for a response.
Thank you,
Microsoft
5) Since my original post, I have received excellent support from
Microsoft.
6) VISA, Master Card, AMEX, and Discover would have this website shutdown
in seconds if the ACT of STEALING software was demonstrated by this website.
The site has been operating for at least a year and a half, so if there were
issues, there¹s no question in my mind that the site is a legitimate
business.
7) I did my homework. Do yours before offering defamatory language.
8) I¹m not winding anyone up. The fact is, I purchased and received
support on a product you believe to be impossible to buy and use legally. I
have the proof of the receipt and a legitimate KEY for this Microsoft
product.
Instead of making assumptions and accusatory remarks, READ and possibly
BELIEVE what one writes. Maybe there are legitimate people in the world who
do the RIGHT thing by supporting software, music, and movie companies by
purchasing the right to possess and use the products according to the terms
of its owner.
All I wanted from my original post was support in a community of MS users
which I believe is the essence of this forum. Instead, besides receiving
actual MS support, I received YOUR HECKLING over situations you clearly have
very little knowledge. You¹ve only stultified yourself here, John.
How your Chicken Flu analogy is related to this post or any other post on
this MS news server is beyond my comprehension and just demonstrates your
complete lack of respect for others¹ time and bandwidth.
Cheers
You have paid money for the right to go to jail
not to brightIt may APPEAR to "activate normally", but I also know that if you allow it
to do so, you WILL regret it
J
John McGhie
Hi Jim:
Well, I guess I better explain why I gave you the Darwin Award...
Notice the post immediately following yours? That's from Emma Grant, who
really does work for Microsoft Corporation, on the team that manufactured
that software.
If you really were a software developer, you would know that NO company EVER
"sells" beta software. To understand why, you would have to talk to a
lawyer, but it's to do with product liability. When you "sell" a product,
you accept liability for it. You cannot do that for a product with known
defects in it.
If you gave money to those people, you gave money to thieves. If I were
you, I would have a quick check of your bank account: chances are quite high
that they went back for the rest of your money
If you are in the habit of paying for beta software, which as a developer
you should know companies actually provide for free to legitimate beta
testers, well...
If you were a developer, you would not fall for a rather crude phishing
scam. Hint: Check the IP address of the originating domain on that "order
confirmation" Microsoft doesn't own that IP address, now do thy?
If you had identified the fact that you were using Office 2008 to someone at
Microsoft, you would have got not support at all. Anyone who actually has
accurate knowledge of Office 2008 is not permitted to discuss it publicly.
That includes Emma, and she's on their staff!
So if you got any support at all, it did not come from Microsoft. In order
to get support from Microsoft, it helps enormously if you first pay ‹
Microsoft ‹ for its products
Credit cards take a percentage of the cash that flows through them. What
makes you think they would be at all interested in stopping that flow by
blowing up one of their "merchants"? Even if it is selling stolen goods...
Oh: That product key you have? It's stolen! And has now been disabled.
You have amply demonstrated that my Chicken Flue analogy was indeed beyond
your comprehension! You did not receive "heckling" from me, you received
rolling-all-over-the-floor DERISION. It's 24 hours since I first saw your
post, and I am still laughing about it, and we're sharing it around on the
internal mailing list. There are now several hundred people laughing at
you!
I am sorry if this has been a rather painful lesson for you. Trust me, it
would not have hurt so much if you hadn't been so arrogant as to persist in
the face of all the warnings you got.
But I am afraid you are completely and indescribably STUPID, and for that
alone, you are a worthy recipient of this year's "Stolen Software Dupe
Darwin Award."
Have a nice day now, y'hear?
--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/
Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.
John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Australia
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]
Well, I guess I better explain why I gave you the Darwin Award...
Notice the post immediately following yours? That's from Emma Grant, who
really does work for Microsoft Corporation, on the team that manufactured
that software.
If you really were a software developer, you would know that NO company EVER
"sells" beta software. To understand why, you would have to talk to a
lawyer, but it's to do with product liability. When you "sell" a product,
you accept liability for it. You cannot do that for a product with known
defects in it.
If you gave money to those people, you gave money to thieves. If I were
you, I would have a quick check of your bank account: chances are quite high
that they went back for the rest of your money
If you are in the habit of paying for beta software, which as a developer
you should know companies actually provide for free to legitimate beta
testers, well...
If you were a developer, you would not fall for a rather crude phishing
scam. Hint: Check the IP address of the originating domain on that "order
confirmation"
Microsoft doesn't own that IP address, now do thy? If you had identified the fact that you were using Office 2008 to someone at
Microsoft, you would have got not support at all. Anyone who actually has
accurate knowledge of Office 2008 is not permitted to discuss it publicly.
That includes Emma, and she's on their staff!
So if you got any support at all, it did not come from Microsoft. In order
to get support from Microsoft, it helps enormously if you first pay ‹
Microsoft ‹ for its products
Credit cards take a percentage of the cash that flows through them. What
makes you think they would be at all interested in stopping that flow by
blowing up one of their "merchants"? Even if it is selling stolen goods...
Oh: That product key you have? It's stolen! And has now been disabled.
You have amply demonstrated that my Chicken Flue analogy was indeed beyond
your comprehension! You did not receive "heckling" from me, you received
rolling-all-over-the-floor DERISION. It's 24 hours since I first saw your
post, and I am still laughing about it, and we're sharing it around on the
internal mailing list. There are now several hundred people laughing at
you!
I am sorry if this has been a rather painful lesson for you. Trust me, it
would not have hurt so much if you hadn't been so arrogant as to persist in
the face of all the warnings you got.
But I am afraid you are completely and indescribably STUPID, and for that
alone, you are a worthy recipient of this year's "Stolen Software Dupe
Darwin Award."
Have a nice day now, y'hear?
--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/
Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.
John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Australia
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]
C
CyberTaz
Just for grins I went to the site from which you claim to have legally
purchased the Office:Mac 2008 Beta. I ran approximately a dozen searches
using various permutations of "2008", "Mac", "office", & "beta" as well as a
search there and with Google for "Office for Mac - Holiday Offer". I also
visually scanned that site's list of Mac software items as well as their
list of product from MS.
The site in question produce *0* hits for any type of MS product for the Mac
- beta or otherwise. The Software lists included no Mac titles for MS
whatsoever. The show no such "Holiday Offer", nor did the Google search
produce any relevant hits.
Additionally, if MS has been so supportive of your purchase ( 5) Since my
original post, I have received excellent support from Microsoft.) *why*
would you feel the need to post to the group about the expiration notice?
Why not inquire directly of MS or to the vendor you so highly regard?
At any rate, there is nobody with legitimate knowledge who will offer any
support on the beta product.
Good Luck |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac
purchased the Office:Mac 2008 Beta. I ran approximately a dozen searches
using various permutations of "2008", "Mac", "office", & "beta" as well as a
search there and with Google for "Office for Mac - Holiday Offer". I also
visually scanned that site's list of Mac software items as well as their
list of product from MS.
The site in question produce *0* hits for any type of MS product for the Mac
- beta or otherwise. The Software lists included no Mac titles for MS
whatsoever. The show no such "Holiday Offer", nor did the Google search
produce any relevant hits.
Additionally, if MS has been so supportive of your purchase ( 5) Since my
original post, I have received excellent support from Microsoft.) *why*
would you feel the need to post to the group about the expiration notice?
Why not inquire directly of MS or to the vendor you so highly regard?
At any rate, there is nobody with legitimate knowledge who will offer any
support on the beta product.
Good Luck |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac
B
Ben
I know I will get flamed for this (and this post will probably be
swiftly deleted, but try looking at:
<http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3890215/Office_2008_Beta_[k]>
this looks like it will do what you need.
(and no I have not tried it!)
W
William Smith
Jim said:
Hi Jim!
Mistakes happen and we can all learn from them. I've posted the
following on The Entourage Help Blog so that others don't fall into the
same situation you did. Please don't take this as me heckling you or
otherwise trying to embarrass you. It's not meant in that regard.
"Software pirates illegally selling Office 2008 beta"
<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2007/11/software_pirates_illegally_selling_office_2008_beta.html>
--
bill
William M. Smith, Microsoft Interop MVP - Mac/Windows
Entourage Help Page <http://entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
C
Corentin Cras-Méneur
William Smith said:
I woudl add that when the price appears to be too good to be true, it
usually is :-\
I visited the site quoted in this thread and all software worth >$500
are sold for <$70..... Too good to be true :-<
Corentin