A May 15 blog post on “Genuine Windows and Windows 10”from Microsoft Operating System Group Chief Terry Myerson stated the policy in the least ambiguous language Microsoft has used yet in explaining the situation. In January, 2015, it had been reported that Myerson had said Microsoft would offer those running Non-Genuine Windows the opportunity to upgrade to Windows 10 in the first year for free setting of discussions on forums and tech sites that Microsoft was going soft on pirates. When it revealed its new OS, Microsoft had said that consumers and some business users the opportunity to move from Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 to Windows 10 for the first year Windows 10 is available. Though the above blog post is clearer about Microsoft’s intent, it still leaves a room for ambiguity. The blog states, “While our free offer to upgrade to Windows 10 will not apply to Non-Genuine Windows devices, and as we’ve always done, we will continue to offer Windows 10 to customers running devices in a Non-Genuine state.” If taken at par, this statement could mean that Microsoft will allow these users to move to a Non-Genuine Windows 10 version for free or it could mean that that Microsoft will be sending the same “Windows 10 is now available” notifications to Non-Genuine Windows 7 and 8 users that Genuine users will see. These notifications are designed to try to make plainer to existing users when and how they can move to Windows 10. If a copy of Windows is identified as “Non-Genuine,” users see repeated notifications meant to push them to remedy the situation so their copy of Windows will be validated.
