Microsoft agrees to cease forcing downloads in German “Get Windows 10” case

According to a report from Computer World, Microsoft has agreed to cease forcing Windows 10 downloads in Germany as the result of a German “Get Windows 10” court case. This comes many months after Windows 7 and 8.1 users across the world complained about (the unwanted) Windows 10 Update automatically being downloaded to their hard drives during the free update period.

The court battle over this issue in Munich, Germany was initially filed by the Baden-Würtenberg consumer rights center and lasted roughly 18 months. A roughly translated version of a German press release puts the decision into perspective for consumers.

“With the declaration of discontinuance, the Group [Microsoft] is obliged not to install additional installation files for new operating systems without approval on the hard disk of Windows users… “

Cornelia Tausch, CEO of the Consumer Center in Baden-Württember, also issues strong words in the same press release. The statement suggests that this is a win for consumer rights.

“We would have wished for an earlier introduction, but the levy is a success for more consumer rights in the digital world.”

Now that Microsoft is obliged not to install new operating systems without the consent from Windows users in Germany, it remains questionable how this will impact the automatic download of featured Windows 10 updates. It also remains questionable as to how the decision in Germany will impact similar “Get Windows 10” court cases in the United States. Safe to say, there will be much more to come in this saga.