Microsoft's master of operating systems, Terry Myerson, has finally clarified that pirates and other non-genuine users of Windows 7 and 8 will not get a free upgrade to a legitimate version of Windows 10.

As with previous versions of Windows, non-genuine users will still be able to upgrade to Windows 10, but you will get "a desktop watermark [that notifies] the user" that the machine is still non-genuine.

Myerson says that non-genuine Windows is "not supported" by Microsoft, but unfortunately he doesn't clarify whether non-genuine machines will receive regular updates. Given how Windows 10 will be delivered "as a service" and that it's "the last version of Windows," we have to assume that non-genuine installations will still receive updates—otherwise, in a few years, the sheer number of unpatched Windows 10 boxes will pose a gnarly security threat.

But that's not all! Despite all of the rigmarole, and because it would just be too simple otherwise, there's this little gem tucked away in Myerson's blog post: "In addition, in partnership with some of our valued OEM partners, we are planning very attractive Windows 10 upgrade offers for their customers running one of their older devices in a Non-Genuine state."

So, while Microsoft is definitely not giving away Windows 10 to pirates and non-genuine users, it seems there will be some kind of amnesty. What does "very attractive" mean, though? Myerson's comments back in March appeared to be specifically about reducing the amount of piracy in China—but the offer would have to be very attractive ($1? $5?) to get millions of Chinese pirates to upgrade. Furthermore, with so many different Windows 10 SKUs available, which one will pirates get?

Answers to those questions are coming, just not right now: "Please stay tuned to learn more from our partners on the specifics of their offers." And so the saga continues.