Article by George Norman

On 14 Jan 2010

Launched back in 2001, the Windows XP operating system proved to be a great success with users all over the world. It is now 2010 and there are still plenty of people out there still using Windows XP. The operating system’s longevity can be explained by two factors: it was a properly good piece of software; when Vista came out it was a flop and numerous users refused to make the switch (some even downgraded to XP).

Ylmf are famous for having pirated Microsoft’s Windows XP OS. And as we all know, Redmond-based software giant Microsoft doesn’t take piracy kindly. So naturally it cracked down on the pirated XP version. What did Ylmf do? They hacked Ubuntu to look like Windows XP and are now serving it to the public.


Sine Ubuntu is open source, they’re in the clear, right? Wrong! As Download Squad’s Sebastian Anthony points out this is not the first time XP’s looks have been copied, and you can get in trouble for copying XP’s looks.

“This isn't the first time copycats or pirates have imitated a prevalent operating system. Cloned in China reported on the case of Tomato Garden Windows XP, another pirate distribution, where the creator was jailed for 4 years and fined $147,000. China has very lax piracy laws, but I would expect Microsoft to lean rather heavily on its friends there -- if they have any -- to make sure Ylmf OS is stamped out quickly. It might not be Windows itself, but you can sue for GUI copycatting too!” said Sebastian Anthony.

Ylmf’s Ubuntu-based Windows XP version is a perfect copy of the original operating system. Which leads Anthony to raise an interesting question: what does the Ubuntu development team have to say about this? Are they amused by this development or do they see this as a definite no-no.





Tags: Microsoft, Windows, XP, Piracy, Ylmf, Ubuntu

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