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Windows uses pirated software?

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by kaskangar

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Has it ever crossed your mind to use the editor to open a WAV file installed with Windows XP? Nobody will do that - that's what Microsoft probably thought. After all, countless WAV files are stored on a computer, and they are to be heard, not to be watched, right?

No, not exactly. Our colleagues over at Macwelt gave us the idea. We tried it and examined some WAV files that are stored on a drive with a newly installed Windows XP. And we made a stunning discovery. In fact, we didn't even have to search for very long, as coincidence lent us a helping hand. In the Windows system directory, we had our first find, in the directory

"Windows\Help\Tours\WindowsMediaPlayer\Audio\Wav".

Located there are exactly nine WAV files, with a size between 80 and 360 Kilobytes. They serve as background sound during the Windows Media Player Tour. When you open one of these files with the notepad, you at first only see scrambled letters. Of course, you think, it's a sound file, after all.

But things become interesting when you scroll down to the very bottom in notepad. Located there is a type of watermarking, which records the software that the Microsoft musician used to create the WAV files.

We found the following text there:
LISTB INFOICRD 2000-04-06 IENG Deepz0ne ISFT Sound Forge 4.5

At first, that sounds anything but spectacular. It seems as if the Microsoft musician or the freelance musician commissioned by Microsoft used the Sony-made software " Sound Forge " (formerly Sonic) in its 4.5 version. Sound Forge is a tool for professionals and enables users to create WAV, AIFF, MP3 and other music files priced at $400.

On its face, all that's not unusual: Microsoft uses professional software. Who would've thought? But wait a minute, who or what is "DeepzOne"?

Bingo!

DeepzOne is (or at least was) member of the Warez group Radium that had specialized on cracking music software. Along with a person using the alias "Sandor," he was also co-founder of this group, which was established in 1997( see in this interview ). In addition, it was DeepzOne who started circulating the cracked 4.5 version of Sound Forge a few years ago.

A few years back, the group "Radium" caused quite a stir. It cracked the original Fraunhofer MP3 codec in order improve the limited MP3 codec that comes along
with Microsoft. To listen to MP3s, the Windows codec was solid, but it offered only limited encoding functions. The Radium codec, by contrast, boasted an improved encoder (up to 320 Kbit/s). During this Warez release, then, the name DeepzOne" surfaced. But what is the name "DeepzOne" doing in nine WAV files in Windows XP? Nothing more than a coincidence? One has the suspicion that that the files were generated with the cracked version of Sound Forge 4.5. It's difficult to say whether Microsoft itself did that or one of the freelancers. Only the Redmond-based employees in charge of the Windows Media Player will know that for sure. It seems, though, as if someone wanted to get around filling out an investment order to buy a software worth $400.

The topic still raises a moral problem, though, as Microsoft is quick to report every oh-so-minor success in the fight against piracy. In the wake of that move, the company also joined the BSA (Business Software Alliance), which has devoted itself to the "fight against software piracy" and persecutes violaters around the globe. But maybe BSA knows which office door it should knock on

Microsoft has yet to issue a statement. It will be interesting to get the company's position on this issue.

14 replies

by eldritched

I don't see why music software pirates aren't easily caught: No-one, and I DO mean absolutely not a single soul in music, can or will pay a thousand dollars for music recording software. Still, someone has to, otherwise O2&similar people would have nothing to crack. Just arrest anyone who actually buys Cubase or Pro Tools.. Either that, or imply an Alias-type revenue system.

by m

When people buy legitimate software like Sound Forge, and need to have it running on their computer, they might have a dongle, or keys to activate it, then need to install it elsewhere, and with deadlines, technical issues, or sometimes losses, they just can't get it done, and have to resort to using a pirated version ... even though they do own the original and its probably nearby, or whatever else.

by misc

I'm suspecious of this article as just another Microsoft bash attempt.

1) What was the motivation to: "Has it ever crossed your mind to use the editor to open a WAV file installed with Windows XP?"??

2) "Our colleagues over at Macwelt" Emphasis on MAC.

3) You went as far as opening WAV files in a basic text editor? NOW THAT'S DIGGING FOR MISCOSOFT BASHING.

Sorry, but TECH REPUBLIC SUCKS ASS. IS TECH REPLUBLIC THAT DESPERATE FOR STUFF TO BASH MICROSOFT ON?? PLEASE GET SOME TALENTED STAFF!!

by deadly ernest

does NOT make the statement made false - you can simply follow the instructions and find that what he said is true.

Maybe they should report MS to the BSA and see what happens.

by hal 9000

I must have missed it. The above are the comments from one member of TR a non paid person who voluntary contributes to TR and not TR Itself.

[i]Sorry, but TECH REPUBLIC SUCKS ASS. IS TECH REPLUBLIC THAT DESPERATE FOR STUFF TO BASH MICROSOFT ON?? PLEASE GET SOME TALENTED STAFF!![/i]

Can you please point me to the link between TR and this opinion of yours?

Just because someone posts on the TR Discussion forum in no way implies that TR is responsible for the actions of the individual who posts and neither should TR be blamed for these posts. If you don't like a particular post [b]Then Don't Read It![/b] And if you just have to read things that you don't like you should not blame TR or even everyone who contributes to TR for one persons post that's is exactly the same as blaming your Government for someones Loony ideas who has no connection with the Government.

Have a close look at this link and tell me what is the first thing that you see about it. :0

http://tinyurl.com/mgnpv

Col

by davidbenoit6

My first thought is "get a life!!". LOL Any excuse to bash Microsoft and justify pirating is lame and pathetic. If you're going to pirate, than pirate. But don't try to justify it with lame attempts to blame companies that make the stuff your pirating. It's sad that so many in the Internet generation have no clue what personal responsibility means. Doesn't say much for our future, does it?

by h3c70r

Just spelled the name backwards and there is a funny coincidence. Give you hint... he was the author of the Windows XP startup sound. I'm not saying that this is the same author of these sounds BUT it IS a coincidence. Here Come the Warm Jets, indeed.

by jaqui

you saved me the effort of looking up the story to get the link and point this out.

It was actually mentioned on the tv news services here when it first came out. and if ctv network crried it, then I know that CNN, ABC, NBC, Turner all carried it.

by genera-nation

This is OLD, OLD news. They have issued a statement (over a year ago) and the whole thing is finished.

by anitamitchell4

This is what i found (        LISTB INFOICRD 2000-04-06 IENG Deepz0ne ISFT Sound Forge 4.5)
I find that disgusting that microsoft ripped off Deepzone ,then they dare chase people up to fine them when they buy pirated copies ,such is life nothing is original.

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