On 21/09/11 7:28 PM, James Harper wrote:
# A system that ships with only OEM and Microsoft keys will # not boot a generic copy of Linux.
Or to translate - "Come on ACCC! Hit me in the stomach!"
The relevant parts of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (which supercedes the Trade Practices Act) appears to be section 47 and, depending on circumstances, section 46. The useful links are here: http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/816373 http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/816377 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/caca2010265/ http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/caca2010265/s46.html http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/caca2010265/s47.html I suspect Microsoft will be able to step around this in Australia if it is made clear at the point of sale that Windows 8 logo systems can only be used with Windows and if the hardware vendors supply equivalent systems which are not restricted in this manner. It still bears close scrutiny, though. For the record, I'm not a lawyer, but I have a relative who works at the ACCC and we've discussed this part of the Act in the past (in relation to DVD regioning). Regards, Ben