(OGA) is a program currently (as of
May 3 ,
2006 ) being piloted by
Microsoft similar to
Windows Genuine Advantage in that it requires users of the
Microsoft Office software to validate their copy of
Microsoft Office to download files and updates. This is different from product activation in that activation is required to use the software and is enforced at the software level, whereas validation permits users to download files and updates from the Microsoft web site and is Internet-based. Validation rejects those volume license numbers that have either been leaked widely or those which have been key-generated to pass through activation but not validation.
Currently,
Microsoft Office software is validated by using the
Office Validation Assistant (OVA) which is available
on Microsoft’s web site . Validation using the OVA is not presently required to use the base software. [http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/en/office/faq.mspx]
Use of Office Genuine Advantage to obtain Office updates and downloads, as of
October 27 ,
2006 is mandatory in most countries.
Effective
January 30 ,
2007 , users of Office Update have to validate the legitimacy of their Office software before they can use the service
{Link without Title} .
