Auto Patcher described it as a sad day, we here call it a really sad day, once again the mighty M$ flex their muscles and put and end to a very very practicable service, no more can we get updates in bulk and install offline, we have to wait for them to feed US Now isn't that nice.
Hers is what has happened to one of our favourite sites
I had a call from Microsoft Legal this morning and they have told me that we are no longer allowed to endorse AutoPatcher on Neowin.
Microsoft will only allow updates to be downloaded from its own servers.
AutoPatcher started in 2003 and has been redistributed in some of the worlds best computer magazine cover CD/DVD's. I have no explanation for why Microsoft allowed it to continue unchecked for 4 years before making this decision.
I asked the representative if Windows Genuine Advantage had anything to do with it and he categorically told me this was not the case, he added that Windows Update for pre-Vista versions of Windows can now be accessed using Firefox and that the concern at Microsoft had more to do with the possible malicious code that could be redistributed with certified Microsoft updates.
We have no grounds to challenge the decision by Microsoft.
I'd like to thank the whole AutoPatcher team for their continued work, unfortunately none of the team is online, but they have been contacted via the AutoPatcher.com website by Microsoft Legal.
The AutoPatcher forums on Neowin have been disabled for guests and members.
Update: A Microsoft representative has told Neowin that he is looking into the matter and will try to get some answers. More to follow.
Demand for Immediate Take-Down: Notice of Infringing Activity
Microsoft has received information that the domain listed above, which appears to be on servers under your control, is offering unlicensed copies of, or is engaged in other unauthorized activities relating to copyrighted works published by Microsoft.
1. Identification of copyrighted works:
Copyrighted work(s):
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Home Edition
Windows XP Professional x64
Windows 2003 Server Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate
Windows 2000 Professional
Office Professional Edition 2003
Office Professional 2007
Office XP Professional
The above computer program(s) is being made available for copying, through downloading, at the above location without authorization of the copyright owner.
3. Statement of authority:
The information in this notice is accurate, and I hereby certify under penalty of perjury that I am authorized to act on behalf of Microsoft, the owner of the copyright(s) in the work(s) identified above. I have a good faith belief that none of the materials or activities listed above have been authorized by Microsoft, its agents, or the law.
We hereby give notice of these activities to you and request that you take expeditious action to remove or disable access to the material described above, and thereby prevent the illegal reproduction and distribution of this software via your company's network.
We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Please advise us regarding what actions you take.
Yours sincerely,
****** *******
Internet Investigator
on behalf of Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
United States of America
So the only infringement of copyrighted work would be the free updates that Microsoft offer for download, the email makes it sound like copies of the above mentioned Microsoft products are freely available for download!
We'll keep you posted but for those that think we are "weak" for taking down both AutoPatcher.com download page and the forums here on Neowin I just have this to say, sometimes it is better to comply so that the problem can be talked about in an orderly manner rather than being the rebel without a cause and then ultimately facing further problems of the Microsoft Legal machine.
The plot thickens
A Neowin member asked a Microsoft representative (who remained nameless) about the implications of distributing hotfixes and Antonis received a reply on August 15th 2005:
The flaw in the poster's logic is that he doesn't understand the purpose of WGA. WGA is first and foremost an educational tool. A lot (probably a majority) of people using an illegal copy of Windows don't know that they are doing so. WGA flags the copy as illegal and directs the user to upgrade, helping Microsoft recover sales they would have lost otherwise. WGA also creates an irritant that should prod a lot of casual pirates to eventually pay for a legitimate copy. WGA was never intended be a 100% solution. Therefore, redistribution of hotfixes doesn't constitute a "flaw."
Hardly official but I can tell you since my frequent meetings with Microsoft over the past 2 years, I have asked the same question of WGA's purpose and I got the same answer.
Auto Patcher described it as a sad day, we here call it a really sad day, once again the mighty M$ flex their muscles and put and end to a very very practicable service, no more can we get updates in bulk and install offline, we have to wait for them to feed US Now isn't that nice.
Link: 
muBlinder 3.54 (81369)
wpa_registry (19014)
