[AluminiumPoint]

Im sad that he got jail time, but this guy was distributing end-of-life vulnerable operating systems. These are very dangerous and no longer updated. Forcing old machines to run closed-source outdated operating systems, which put the user at a real risk of compromise -- maybe we should look at regulations here. Windows XP is not suitable or safe to use today. This isn't about recycling, its no longer fit for purpose online.

If he had shipped it with say, a supported Ubuntu, there would be no issue and the users would be protected.

[zeusk]

I'm happy he got jail time after having read those emails.

This guy was intentionally creating "fake" Windows recovery discs with Microsoft and Dell logos and searching for unscrupulous buyers that would not notice the small defects and pay him market rate of $25 of a genuine product for something he copied (presumably for less than $2) in China.

Over that all, he had the guts to ignore US Customs seizure notice about his illegal activities and to moreover email is codefendant that "they're non-technical people and have no proof against us".

[9935c101ab17a66]

when I first came across this story last week, there was some HEAVY spin that he was an environmentalist just doing his piece to save old technology. I've since read all of the emails, and that's definitely not what he was doing. That may have been his original intention or a very very small part of his motivation, but this was a money making venture from the get go. There's no doubt about it.

[gruez]

Actually, if you check the date on some of the emails, they were in 2011, well before the end of security updates for windows xp (which was in 2014)