New Portal Helps PC Buyers Reclaim Pre-Installed Windows 11 License Fees
Refund4Freedom, launched by the Italian Linux Society and the Free Software Foundation Europe, offers forms to help consumers seek refunds for unwanted Windows licenses.
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AfroEuropa desk
A new website called Refund4Freedom aims to help computer buyers recover money paid for pre-installed Windows 11 licenses they do not want. According to Tom's Hardware, the site was created by the Italian Linux Society and the Free Software Foundation Europe to address concerns over bundled operating systems.
Most personal computers are sold with Windows 11 already licensed, paid for, and installed. The portal offers information and legal forms intended to help users claim refunds of up to $175, Tom's Hardware reported. The site cautions buyers not to erase their storage before pursuing a refund.
The organizations behind the project set out three central demands. They argue that manufacturers and vendors should not impose an operating system or software on consumers, nor require them to pay for software they do not want. They also call for buyers to be able to see product prices both with and without Windows, and for the option to purchase hardware without pre-installed software.
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