Combating Counterfit Licensing Media
April 1st 2003 saw a new look to licensing media to ensure that it is quick and easy for all resellers to identify if the product they are receiving is genuine. The new Anti-Piracy features have been incorporated into specific Volume Licensing software media.

What is the Change?
Certain software media now has a copper coloured background hologram along with the previously applied artwork on the print-side of the media. The data-side of the media now includes an Inner Mirror Band Hologram found towards the centre of the disc. The media will have incremental anti-piracy features added from time-to-time as deemed necessary.

What software programs have been incorporated in this change?
Microsoft® Access, Microsoft® Data Analyzer, Microsoft® Excel, Microsoft® FrontPage®, Microsoft® MapPoint®, Microsoft® Office Developer, Microsoft® Office, Microsoft® Outlook™, Microsoft® PowerPoint®, Microsoft® Project, Microsoft® Project Professional, Microsoft® Publisher, Microsoft® Visio® 2002 Professional, Microsoft® Visio® 2002 Standard, Microsoft® Windows®, Microsoft® Word

When did this change become effective?
Shipments began April 2003

What hasn't changed with this anti-piracy feature?
Price, User Functionality, Warranty or any other end user feature.

Overview of other Anti-Piracy features

New Hologran CD-ROM
The CD-ROM has a Hologram etched into its surface with silkscreen artwork overlaid. When tilted in the light, the Hologram displays the words "Licensing", "Not for OEM or Retail Distribution" and "Not for Resale" in a circular pattern. The face of the Hologram is copper, rather than the aluminum of the previous Edge to Edge CD-ROM (E2E), and there is a "feathered" or soft transition from the copper to aluminum outer band around the edge of the CD-ROM.

Inner Mirror band hologram
The Inner Mirror Band Hologram is located on the side of the CD-ROM that has no artwork (data side) and is an integral part of the mastering process for this media. It is an optical band that wraps 180 degrees around the inner portion of the disc on the data side. When tilted in the light, there is text within the Hologram that switches from "Microsoft" to "Genuine"; additional text may be present.