Are Digital River download links for Windows 7 legal for the general public to use?
I've noticed the spread on some tech sites of direct-download links for Windows 7, for large ISO files hosted by Digital River. It turns out those links seem to only be for the use of students who bought under a certain promotion through the Microsoft store prior to Jan. 3, 2010. So my question is, if someone comes along today, not as part of that promotion, and uses those links, is it legal? Or is it violation of Microsoft's copyright? It seems to me that downloading gigs thousands/millions of times from a server will involve some costs that Microsoft and Digital River did not intend. I know that the downloaded copies of Windows would need to be activated. That's not the question. Thanks for any input. ETA: The links are not provided with Microsoft's permission, nor are the downloads in agreement with Microsoft's terms of use. In fact on the Digital River website qualified users (i.e. students who bought from the Microsoft site during a specified eligibility period) are directed to contact customer support directly to obtain download links; the fact that one or more of them must have passed the links along does not change the fact that the unqualified use of the links is not permitted. The Digital River Terms of Use: http://windows7.digitalriver.com/sto...e/pbPage.Terms (Eligibility restricted to students purchasing through the offer up to January 3, 2010; those students only can download, with the alternative option of buying the disks at the low promotional price of $13; etc.) "8.1.1 [The] Software may not be copied, adapted, translated, made available, distributed, varied, modified, disassembled, decompiled, reverse engineered or combined with any other software, save to the extent that (i) this is permitted in the License Terms, or (ii) applicable law expressly mandates such a right which cannot legally be excluded by contract." https://windows7.digitalriver.com/DR...=1317820988651 "When will I be able to download my pre-ordered product? ... To re-download software you have already purchased within the 30 days of your original purchase, you will need to go to your order information page and press the download button." https://windows7.digitalriver.com/DR...cale=en_US#q10 "What is the difference between what I can purchase from the online store versus in a retail store? You can only take advantage of this special offer through the official promotion website." Here is a sample thread on another website providing the leaked links:
October 10th, 2011 10:20am

Based on what you see and read, this is ment for students under that program to obtain software based on what that university offers as part or it's paid curriculum. There are similar programs for companies and other universities to offer this to thier employees and customers. It's not free, either the company or school is paying it, or the students make up some of the cost. I guess MS is paying for the bandwith for downloads, I just prefer to buy my OS copies legit, and I have in the past had opperunities to get something like Office with an employee discount for download only. The down side to that is if I loose my downloaded file, and the key, I cannot get it back.:P Advice offered, If you need more help it is advised to seek the council and advice of paid professionals. The answer is always 42, or reboot.
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October 10th, 2011 11:25am

Based on what you see and read, this is ment for students under that program to obtain software based on what that university offers as part or it's paid curriculum. There are similar programs for companies and other universities to offer this to thier employees and customers. It's not free, either the company or school is paying it, or the students make up some of the cost. I guess MS is paying for the bandwith for downloads, I just prefer to buy my OS copies legit, and I have in the past had opperunities to get something like Office with an employee discount for download only. The down side to that is if I loose my downloaded file, and the key, I cannot get it back.:P Advice offered, If you need more help it is advised to seek the council and advice of paid professionals. The answer is always 42, or reboot.
October 10th, 2011 6:15pm

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