Microsoft lifting IE7 WGA requirement

In the world of tech, few contests are watched as closely as the browser wars. Microsoft has long been the incumbent in this space but its easy to see why: bundling Internet Explorer with every copy of Windows leads to something of a home field advantage. Still, that hasn't stopped the scrappy open-source upstart, Firefox, from nipping at IE's heels a bit. When we last left the browser wars, Firefox's marketshare was rapidly expanding in Europe, though things weren't going quite as swimmingly on this side of the pond. Now, however, the tide may be turning back in Mozilla's favor. Though Microsoft saw a bit of a marketshare boost upon the release of IE7 last year, Ars Technica reports that the company's marketshare appears to be leveling off at "between 20 to 27 percent," depending on who you ask. That brings Firefox, with its 13-16 percent share within striking distance, unless Redmond does something to keep Mozilla at bay. For now, Microsoft is lifting the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) check for Windows XP users, which previously required users to verify their copy of Windows before downloading the browser. While this effectively allows users of pirated copies of the software to download Microsoft's latest browser, it might also help boost the company's marketshare in the fiercely competitive market.

For more on IE7:
- see this Ars Technica article