Microsoft has extended the downgrade period for Windows XP until 2020, allowing owners of some Windows 7 versions to “downgrade” to the aging operating system if they choose to.
In the past, Microsoft killed off downgrade rights within months of releasing a new OS, so the new move is somewhat surprising.
Microsoft had limited 7-to-XP downgrades to six months when 7 was released, but extended the rights almost immediately after. It changed the date until July 2010, but that day has now come and gone, with Microsoft doing the lengthy extension.
The new downgrade rights are for users of Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, who can downgrade to XP Pro.
“Our business customers have told us that the removing end-user downgrade rights to Windows XP Professional could be confusing,” adds Microsoft spokesman Brandon LeBlanc.
Furthermore, downgrade rights are only available on OEM copies of Windows 7, meaning it had to have come pre-installed on your new PC.
“Going forward, businesses can continue to purchase new PCs and utilize end-user downgrade rights to Windows XP or Windows Vista until they are ready to use Windows 7,” LeBlanc concluded.
Result for: microsoft spokesman
In February 2009, LA resident Emma Alvarado filed a lawsuit against Microsoft accusing the software giant of profiting from consumers downgrading from Windows Vista back to XP.
Alvarado’s complaint says Microsoft forced customers to first purchase the new operating system, before they could downgrade to the operating system they really wanted, XP.
The case was tossed out this week.
Writes U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman: “Nowhere does she allege that she paid to downgrade or that she did not receive a copy of Vista when she freely chose to purchase her new computer with that software. That she chose to downgrade to XP without extra cost does not demonstrate that Microsoft retained a benefit without giving value. Nor does the fact that she chooses to use only one version nullify the fact that Microsoft gave her value for the bargain.” If anything, “it appears that Plaintiff obtained two versions of Microsoft’s operating software for the price of one,” Pechman continued.
“We’re pleased the Court agreed that Plaintiff’s complaint failed to state a viable claim and dismissed it in its entirety,” Microsoft spokesman Kevin Kutz responded.
Alvarado claimed she had to pay a $59.25 fee to downgrade from Vista to XP, although Microsoft does not charge such fees. Those fees are imposed by computer makers, such as Lenovo, which charged Alvarado for the downgrade. Lenovo was not named in the suit.
Result for: microsoft spokesman
Microsoft spokesman David Bowermaster has noted that the software giant has settled a patent infringement lawsuit relating to multiplayer online through the Xbox 360.
The lawsuit had been brought forward by PalTalk, and the plaintiff wanted over $90 million USD in royalties. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
The case ended in an “amicable agreement” however, says Microsoft.
“The parties have settled the case, and PalTalk is quite pleased with the outcome,” added Max Tribble, a PalTalk lawyer.
PalTalk told the courts last week that “the Halo franchise as well as both the original Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles made use of patents owned by PalTalk.”
GI.biz explains that the patents in question “were said to cover ways in which multiple computers could interact with each other, specifically for use in multiplayer games, which Microsoft had dismissed the claims as being for outmoded dial-up connections, adding “the patents don’t cover the way the Halo games work.”
