In a victory for consumers everywhere, Intuit recently announced that it will drop the product activation that it initiated in its Turbo Tax product this year. The activation was much like the one used in Windows XP, which scans that user’s computer for hardware components and ties the software to that computer. This prevents users from installing the software on more than one computer, and/or lending a copy to a friend or neighbor.

Intuit initiated the activation to try to squelch illegal copying and borrowing. The activation plan, however, did not go as smoothly as the Windows XP activation. Intuit used a program called SafeCast to enable the product activation. When some users saw the SafeCast program being installed without any notice from Intuit, they assumed that SafeCast was a spyware program. Consumers also had a myriad of installation problems with the activation. Many were outraged. At least one purchaser filed suit against Intuit. Customer backlash to the activation plan is said to be the main reason why Intuit will pull the plug on its product activation scheme in next year’s version of TurboTax.

This is a victory for consumers everywhere proving that the voice of consumers is heard by large corporations, and that the end-users can make a difference in the way they are treated.