Macs & Random Computer Licence Checks?

[Glitchfinder]

Well, not at all- Since I believe he is discussing Office:mac, so it's two different.
Apple doesn't really care, unless it's iWork/iLife/Logic Pro/Final Cut...etc

Might add that, as long as you don't register your OS Install, they don't track it at all- Added in to the factor that they have no anti-piracy protection on their OS. Don't Steal Mac OS X.kext more applies towards non-Apple hardware, since it contains a poem that's in cipher.

Actually, I was talking about Office:Windows. It's part of Microsoft's anti-piracy initiattive. If you have a Windows computer, you already have a folder on your computer with files related to that initiative, tracking your microsoft products. (That's why people can't update unofficial copies of office, or of the operating system. At this point it just acts as though there are no updates. In the future, it will have legalized adware telling you to buy the official version)

 

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I was told before Windows Vista's release that Vista automatically checks for pirated stuff and uninstalls it automatically, that was also bullcrap.

Windows Vista actually does have heavy duty crypto/DRM built in at the kernel level but it doesn't work like that. It's for preventing copyright violations and detecting attempts at them concerning high-definition video content, and implements a loose specification determined by various media industry associations which basically boils down to "if we decide you didn't try hard enough we're going to sue you when people use your software to pirate our movies/music/whatever". WHY Microsoft actually bent over for these assholes is beyond me, but it is one of the major reasons Vista sucks so much ram and performs so poorly compared to XP. It only actually interacts with some types of DRM hardware, like high-def/blu-ray DVD drives and the main purpose is to permanently disable your drive if it detects you using a pirated DVD in the drive or whatever other device.