Microsoft plans to block downloads of software updates for users of pirated versions of its Office suite instead of nagging them with alerts. However, if you're lucky enough to be an English language user, the whole validation process will be voluntary for the present.

Recently, iTWire reported that the success of the Windows Genuine Advantage program (WGA). Under this program, users of pirated versions of Windows are harassed with continual alerts after downloading security updates. This has led Microsoft to introduce a similar pilot anti-piracy program for Office.

The Office anti-piracy program, called Office Genuine Advantage (OGA), is currently under pilot in seven non-English speaking countries.Microsoft went out of its way to notify iTWire that it will not be using the alerts system for pirate Office users.

Instead, Microsoft says Office users will need to validate their software in order to download updates. Microsoft issues critical updates on a regular basis. These are necessary to stop potential malware purveyors from exploiting security holes.Blocking software updates, however, is problematic for Microsoft. It may open the way for an increased spread of malware through unprotected machines with pirated versions of Office.