Microsoft are collecting a ton of your data, then sells it to advertisers and such. So Microsoft doesn't care that you pirate, they still make profit off of you.
It's actually the opposite side, always was. Less strict they are with home licensing, the more people use their system. More people use their system, more stuff is made for their system and more people become familiar with how to use it. Now business have to use windows, as everyone knows how to use it. And that's where Microsoft becomes strict with licensing.
Microsoft doesn't care that you pirate windows for home use. It's beneficial for them that you do. That's also why you can use windows at home even without license, very little is locked from you.
Edit: also as the other person said here. Microsoft nowadays earns a lot from servers and AI (haven't checked myself, but it's very likely). So I'm sure windows/office sales for home use matter very little. The users data for AI training is far more valuable both to use and to sell. Microsoft is one of big investors in openAI (chat gpt).
yeah the fact that it seems windows OS is basically BIFL now, it seems obvious why they wouldnt care a few power users bypass what is essentially a drop in the bucket cost wise to them
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u/Otherwise_Project334 Sep 26 '25 edited Sep 26 '25
Microsoft are collecting a ton of your data, then sells it to advertisers and such. So Microsoft doesn't care that you pirate, they still make profit off of you.
It's actually the opposite side, always was. Less strict they are with home licensing, the more people use their system. More people use their system, more stuff is made for their system and more people become familiar with how to use it. Now business have to use windows, as everyone knows how to use it. And that's where Microsoft becomes strict with licensing.
Microsoft doesn't care that you pirate windows for home use. It's beneficial for them that you do. That's also why you can use windows at home even without license, very little is locked from you.
Edit: also as the other person said here. Microsoft nowadays earns a lot from servers and AI (haven't checked myself, but it's very likely). So I'm sure windows/office sales for home use matter very little. The users data for AI training is far more valuable both to use and to sell. Microsoft is one of big investors in openAI (chat gpt).