To crack down on piracy, manufacturers will be required to write a unique (Encrypted) Windows product key -- which is associated with the hardware hash -- into the system's BIOS instead of using the same product key for every shipped computer.
The new OA system will also require OEMs to supply production reports to Microsoft, detailing their license compliance. A "Genuine Microsoft" label must also be affixed to the chassis, dumping the previous "Windows Certificate of Authenticity" sticker. Unused keys can be returned in real-time without shipping or insurance costs.
