Microsoft Declares Respondents to Its Questionnaire Pirates

Two days ago, there was a site or two that had a Microsoft invitation to participate in a survey, which was said to take about an hour (it did), with the benefit to the participant being a one year subscription to TechNet from Microsoft.

I participated, and after an hour or so, was given access to the download section of the site. I got a download ISO of Windows Vista Ultimate x64, and a serial number to go with it. I was going to grab a copy of One Note 2003, as I had used a trial of it, and always missed it in the copy of Office 2003 that I had.  I was, however, tired, as I had been up all night, and seeing as the site was slow, thought I would go back later in the day to get it.

See more complete description here.

Yesterday morning, I called the number on the printed receipt from Microsoft, gotten while online, and, after waiting about ten minutes, spoke to a very nice lady who told me that the entire thing was a mistake, and should have never surfaced.

I told her that I had read about some who had gotten hold of some way to get to the download area without taking the survey, but that I was not one of them – I had taken the time and effort to give Microsoft my best answers. After the time taken, I was not very happy that I had been cut off, without any explanation. She said she would send it up the management chain, and since I had taken the survey, I might have a chance to actually get what I was promised, before the start of the survey.

While on hold, and then again at the end of my call, I was told that my answer should come within 24 hours.

I got nothing.

Yesterday, at about mid afternoon, I was perusing some sites, looking to check what was happening. I stopped at Download Squad to find a little story about how Microsoft was shutting off everyone who participated, and then going to, at their convenience, reinstate people’s accounts, if they were so disposed. Meanwhile, the article contained a hyperlink to someone who had called Microsoft, as I had, and the dissimilar response he got.

Below is the information that was provided to me via a phone call to Microsoft TechNet Customer Service and speaking with a manager:

The Microsoft TechNet Consumer Service Pilot program was intended for use only by those invited through the ITAC program, in which you had to fill out a survey and be accepted as a member of ITAC before being sent an invitation to the TechNet Pilot program.

All of the subscriptions that are listed under the TechNet Consumer Service Pilot have been taken offline and placed “under examination”. Any subscriptions created by legitimate ITAC members with valid contact information will continue to have a valid subscription. For those who are not a member of ITAC and signed up directly with the web address will have their subscriptions revoked and any claimed product keys will be placed on a blacklist with Microsoft Genuine Advantage and Product Activation to prevent against software piracy.

I also asked specifically what would happen if anyone who signed up decided to sell or share the product keys that were claimed through the TechNet subscription, and got a pretty straight-forward answer.

We are able to see what product keys have been assigned to a subscriber, so in that situation we can track down which subscriber the product key originated from.

Please bear in mind that this is coming from the customer service department, so there is a chance that there may be updated information in regards to these subscriptions that their agents are not immediately aware of; I am simply informing you all of what I have been told at this point in time.

UPDATE (06/04/2009 7:50 PM EST): I have been in touch with Microsoft TechNet Customer Service once again and was provided some updated information. At this point, management are still deciding whether or not any of the product keys claimed through these subscriptions will be blacklisted, as well as any legal implications and ramifications there may be in this event; the rest of the above information has not changed (this offer was only for ITAC, and that the subscriptions have been revoked).

When I asked them what would happen if someone were to share or otherwise sell the product keys obtained, the agent informed me that it would be handled appropriately as they would with any other product key leak.

UPDATE 2 (06/05/2009 2:50 AM EST): Users in the United Kingdom and Australia appear to be able to access their benefits once again and their subscriptions have been reinstated. Perhaps this is due to different laws in those countries?

UPDATE 3 (06/05/2009 2:59 AM EST): I have been informed by Bryant that some accounts in the United States are being reinstated as well, however it seems that accounts that requested several product keys are being investigated. I will get in touch with Microsoft TechNet when their contact centre opens for business this morning to find out if there is any new information.

UPDATE 4 (06/05/2009 3:34 AM EST): Bryant has reported that access for United States subscriptions is intermittent. I can also confirm that there has been no sign of reinstatement for accounts created in Canada. Again, as I hear more information I will pass it along to you.

UPDATE 5 (06/05/2009, 9:54 AM EST): I have spoken with Microsoft TechNet Customer Service and there is no new information at this point in time, however the agent said there may be a solid answer by tonight, so I’ll try calling again at that time. It would appear that subscriptions in the UK have completely disappeared for most people again.

Obviously, Kristan Kenney has gone a bit farther on following up than I have. (Thanks for the loan of text, I really did not want to re-explain this in the third person.)

Not certain how this will shake out, but I really think this is bad form by Microsoft. Things offered should be rendered to those that complete the proper process (I did, and it appears Kristan did also). Ignorance of the response of loads of people is no excuse. As for bypassing any checks, who holds the &*^%$#( keys to the kingdom, anyway?

The offer should be honored, and barring that, anything gotten during this Microsoft screw-up should be considered as partial compensation, until such time as Microsoft can prove someone hacked into the site to take unfair advantage. (If someone was going to do that, why would they bother to answer the hour long questionnaire?)

Did any of you get the same treatment? Your thoughts?

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UPDATE: 6/5 8:42AM  I just tried to access my account (I still want to get One Note 2003) and got a message that the system is being maintained right now, so benefits are not available – so I’ll try later, no notice as to how long the maintenance will take.

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A little rebellion now and then is a good thing.Thomas Jefferson

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