What is the 'Windows Refund Campaign' that open source OS users asked Microsoft for a refund?
Windows is an operating system that occupies a large share of the PC market and is pre-installed on many PCs. Therefore, when a user who uses an OS such as Linux purchases a PC, he / she must pay for Windows that he / she does not plan to use. Around 1999, users who were dissatisfied with this campaign asked Microsoft for a refund.
Windows Refund Day
http://marc.merlins.org/linux/refundday/
According to Mr. Marlin, in 1999, there were few PC makers dealing with PCs without Windows installed. Therefore, users who want to use an OS other than Windows had to buy a PC with Windows installed, which they do not want to use. Also, the Windows End User License Agreement (EULA) stated that the user could refuse the contract and ask the manufacturer for a refund, but the PC maker did not respond to the user's refund request. did.
PC makers have a special contract with Microsoft regarding Windows usage fees, and if you install a non-Windows operating system on your PC and ship it, you could raise your Windows usage fees. In addition, if the user requested a refund, the Windows usage fee would be disclosed to the user, which could create a disadvantage for the PC manufacturer. 'I didn't get a refund from the PC maker, but I can't blame the PC maker,' Marlin said.
Users, including Marlin, have begun a campaign to seek refunds from Microsoft, not PC makers. Then, on February 15, 1999, members of the Silicon Valley Linux User Group (SVLUG) , a Linux user group based in Silicon Valley , headed to the Microsoft headquarters in Silicon Valley to request a direct refund from Microsoft. A demonstration march was planned.
Participants in the march gathered near Denny 's, about 1.6 km from Microsoft. It is said that this meeting place was only known to a few people until the start time of the march to prevent Microsoft's interference. The person on the left side of the photo below is Mr. Marlin. The 'wearable penguins' worn all over the body are the official Linux mascots ' tax '.
A tax-printed T-shirt was also made for this march. The T-shirt says, 'We didn't want your operating system, this is what we want!'. In addition, not only Linux users but also OS users such as '
When Marlin and his colleagues arrived at Microsoft's parking lot, several reporters and Microsoft employees were waiting. There is a banner in the parking lot that says 'Welcomes the Linux Community,' and Microsoft employees have been friendly with each other. But Marlin said, 'We didn't come to make fun of Microsoft, we did to do business.'
Microsoft employees insisted on Marlin and his colleagues that 'the EULA for Windows states that the PC manufacturer will provide refunds.' In addition, Microsoft said, 'Users can choose their own OS and PC. In fact, more than 200,000 PC makers offer users choices. The official Linux website says,' 14 countries. PCs with Linux pre-installed are shipped from more than 60 OEM manufacturers in Japan. '
In response to this Microsoft statement, Mr. Marlin said, 'Microsoft says,'You can choose the OS and PC yourself,' but most of the PCs that were actually shipped at that time had Windows pre-installed, and other PCs. It's very difficult to find an option, and what kind of world are you talking about with 'more than 200,000 PC makers'? In addition, Microsoft quotes the text of the official Linux website. However, the need to write such a sentence on the official website itself shows the difficulty of getting a PC without Windows pre-installed, 'he said, denying Microsoft's statement head-on. I am.
In the end, Microsoft didn't respond to Marlin's refund request. However, major American media outlets such as ABC , CBS , and NBC reported on the march. 'Many media outlets have reported on this march. Some media have not only explained our claims and Microsoft's claims, but also provided a brief introduction to Linux. I didn't get a refund for this march, but I hope things move in the right direction. '
In addition, Mr. Marlin publishes the video of the news reported at that time on his YouTube channel, so you can check the actual state of the demonstration procession and the contents of each company's coverage.
02/15/1999 Windows Refund Day-YouTube
In addition, after the demonstration procession was widely reported, some users actually succeeded in receiving refunds .
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in Software, Posted by log1o_hf