A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is a label to help
you and your customer identify genuine Microsoft®
Windows® software. Without it, your customers will not
have a legal license to run their Windows software. A
COA is not a software license. It is only a visual aid
that helps assist in determining whether Microsoft
software is genuine—it should never be purchased, sold
or distributed by itself without the software it
authenticates.
Make sure your
customers get genuine Microsoft software.
For Windows software, make sure the COA label is
only distributed with the software that it
authenticates, and never acquired separately as
a standalone component. PCs should always have
the COA attached. That way, your customers will
know they're getting the genuine Microsoft
software they paid for.
If you receive offers for COAs as
stand-alone items, be aware that these
offers are highly suspect—and they can
put you and your customers at risk. If
you fall victim to stand-alone COAs, not
only will you have wasted valuable
money, your customers will not have a
legal license to run their software. The
Anti-Counterfeiting Act of 2003 was
passed to criminalize these activities
across the country. COAs should
never be distributed as stand-alone
components. A COA should always be
included with the accompanying license
components such as the hologram media,
manuals, and other documentation. End
users are licensed only if all
accompanying components are distributed
with the COA. If you see offers for
stand-alone COAs be suspicious. These
are likely stolen, counterfeit, or
otherwise problematic and your customers
could end up as the eventual victims.
To protect your customers and your
company, purchase software through a
Microsoft Authorized OEM Distributor, an
assured source of genuine Microsoft
software.
Anti-Counterfeiting Act of 2003 (U.S. only),
passed on December 24, 2004, this new US law
makes it a criminal offense to distribute
stand-alone COA labels. There is now a
significant legal risk for dishonest reseller to
illegally deal in stand-alone COAs and full
weight of the law is finally behind Microsoft's
efforts to level the playing field on behalf of
our honest partners. |
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New System Builder COA
Security Features
The new COA features two
portholes, one in the shape of
an ellipse and the second in the shape
of the Windows "flying window" logo. The
over-laminate has been removed to
enhance the visibility of the individual
paper fibers within each of the
portholes.
The embedded metallic thread
includes new color transitions that
occur when viewed at an angle.
The new COA constrains
microprint—a security feature
adopted from currency—that is legible
when viewed under a magnifying lens.
The new COA does not
have a laminate finish.
OEM COA Security Features
A Porthole antipiracy feature has
been incorporated allowing the computer
chassis to be visible through a clear
hole. Individual paper fibers can be
discerned within the porthole.
An Embedded metallic thread with
recognizable letters spelling "Genuine"
runs through the label.
The technology strips running down the
side of the Certificate of Authenticity
have been eliminated providing a flatter
profile enabling a more acceptable print
surface for thermal printers.
The surface of the label has been
changed. It now features a less reflective,
secure paper with a thermal print receptive
laminate.
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For more information on identifying genuine Windows
software, visit
www.microsoft.com/genuine |
