To help Microsoft's ever battle with piracy they are now going to go after them in both the US, UK and 11 other countries. So how are they going to go about going after them and what will they do. Well starting soon there will be a Microsoft office Update, one that will allow them to check to see if you have a legal or illegal copy of Microsoft Office. If you have a illegal copy then you will be nagged to death with online screens and messages. Ehhh no problem that happens you simply uninstall it - yeah not so easy there - once its installed they say you can't remove it. I'm guessing a system restore would but what a pain in the butt that would be.

Now according to ComputerWorld:
"For Windows XP users, the update is marked "High Priority" in the list generated when they retrieve downloads from Microsoft Update; Vista users see it tagged as "Important." Even if users have Automatic Updates set to download and install all updates, the notifications software requires users to accept an End User License Agreement (EULA) before it will install.

However, once it's downloaded and installed, the new notifications application cannot be uninstalled."

Now I'm not going to get all preachy on those who pirate and those who do not. But lets say you purchased your computer from the kids down the street (who has moved) and you really have no clue if its legal. I mean you paid for it but who really knows what the brainy kid stuck on your pc......hypothetical of coarse

Well what I would recommend is making sure you have your updates set not to auto update. Yeah computerworld says no worry's it wont, I like to side on the better safe then sorry side. See if your Microsoft office is working now - why mess with it - right???

Ok to check your settings in Vista (since I'm on vista)....

Go to Control Panel > Security Settings > then look.....

If it is then you need to turn it off....

click on up top "Windows Update" (in the "Windows Security Center")

Then you want to click on "Change Settings"

Now you can change your settings. This is where you want to change them. Under Recommended updates, select the "Include recommended updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates" check box, and then click OK

Once you do that you should notice the change on the screen.....

Now this is not to say we condone piracy just a way to choose what programs you wish to download or not download.