Microsoft Passport License Dangers

Troubleshooters.Com Presents

April 10, 2001: Believe it or not, it appears Microsoft's still trying for a Passport content grab.

April 5, 2001: Late on April 4, 2001, Microsoft revised the Microsoft Passport Web Site Terms of Use and Notices, so that Microsoft no longer claimed the right to use any and all material coming through Passport. This does not change the essential fact that their earlier license claimed the right to grab all content. The fact that they changed the language only after intense pressure that included webmasters around the world blocking incoming email from Microsoft controlled websites, and content owners prohibiting access via Passport.

It will take me some time to revise content on the "Microsoft Passport Lincese Dangers" website to reflect the change. Be aware, however, that in my view, the problem is not over -- it's merely postponed.

Here's the problem. On April 1 through at least April 3, 2001, the Microsoft Passport Web Site Terms of Use and Notices contained language which appeared to me to give Microsoft the right to use any data passing through the Passport web site, regardless of the copyright status of that material.

As a result:

How you can help stop the data grab:

The Tell A Friend Program: Friends don't let friends use Passport.

Explanations of Troubleshooters.Com's position:

Troubleshooters.Com is developing a License Modification Warning System, which can be used to track stealth changes in Microsoft licenses.

The offending material, copied from passport.com on 4/3/2001. Even after Microsoft bowed to public pressure and changed their contract language, this will serve as a reminder for what they tried to slip past us.
Don't believe Microsoft's ~~coming~~ apology by Steve Litt.
The Windows to Linux Conversion: Steve Litt feared for his data's safety in Windows, and moved to Linux.
Professional Dangers of Passport: If you're a law firm, accountancy, medical company, or any other business compelled by law to keep information confidential, read this. Even if you just have trade secrets, read this.
Troubleshooters.Com no longer receives or responds to email coming through hotmail: This explains why.
Troubleshooters.Com's new copyright statement: It bans viewing or quoting through MS Passport. You'll need to click your browser's "back button" to get back here.

Supporting materials:

All your data (and biz plans) are belong to Microsoft by Andrew Orlowski.
MS Passport: "All Your Bits Are Belong To Us" appeared on Slashdot.
MS To Users: Pay Up, by Mitch Wagner. Although it doesn't address Passport specifically, it sheds light on Microsoft's attitudes.
Moongroup blocks MS mail access: MoonGroup's Chuck Mead puts his money where his mouth is and blocks email access to msn.com, msn.net, microsoft.com, microsoft.net, hotmail.com, and hotmail.net. The reason, of course, is Passport. The coloration of this page makes it necessary on some browsers to highlight the text in order to read it. Go ahead and highlight -- this is a must-read.
Microsoft Passport Web Site Terms of Use and Notices: Current version from passport.com. This does not contain the offensive material, but you can see it here.
MS Passport - let the games begin: by: Lester Haines Posted: 09/04/2001 at 11:04 GMT -- A journalist and a Microsoft apologist spar via email.
Pay-to-Play: Microsoft erects .NET tollgate: by Andrew Orlowski Posted: 3/19/2001 at 19:15 GMT -- We knew all along that Microsoft's core competancy is monopolization. Here's their plan in the post-windows era.
Microsoft excludes world+dog from Passport climb-down: by Andrew Orlowski Posted: 4/7/2001 at 00:48 GMT: HERE IT IS PEOPLE, MICROSOFT IS STILL DOING THE DIRTY DEED WITH THE PASSPORT LICENSE!

Email Steve Litt (but not from hotmail)