Essence OS, is it legal?

TheBest_ForReal

TheBest_ForReal

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Hey Everyone. I am Akshay with a channel named "Akshay The Best" on YouTube. I made an Windows Built named "Essence OS". It's main features are, stripping it until the OS breaks, optimize it with CMDs and Registry Tweaks built-in and serves incredible performance increase in both Gaming and Regular Use to the plate for the Low End PC Users. I used NTLite for the initial stripping of the OS and used 7zip to further strip the OS in the "install.wim" file present inside the sources folder of the ISO. Then used ImgBurn to make that extracted folder into a Bootable ISO again. I made both Windows 10 and Windows 11 for this project.

I came here because I saw an post in the NTLite Community Post that Custom OS Distribution is illegal due to the Micorsoft's Terms and Conditions, the Transparency, Bad Tweaks, Security and Privacy and Disrespect. But, I accept that Microsoft"s Operating System is Copyrighted and I am just making it usable for Low End PCs with extreme amounts of stripping and optimizations. The Transparency is clear to me, in fact I have the "NTLite.log" file and the .xmp files in my ISO, giving credit to NTLite and not making it fully on my own and claiming it as my own hard work. Bad Tweaks will not be an issue as I added an ZIP File in this post about all the Registry Files and CMDs I used with this project. Security could be a problem due to the really stripped OS I made but I PROMISE to MYSELF that I do not have a malware built-in to this ISO. And I do respects Microsoft's Conditions and I am not taking any profits from them as the original ISO is from the official Microsoft's Website, I am here just to simplify there OS to help the people who can't even run Chrome without taking 9 seconds to launch. You might say that let the people upgrade there PCs so they can use the regular Windows OS without any modifications, well, I made this project for the people I want to help that doesn't have Money, wants a quick upgrade for gaming, or boosting there really old PC that runs Windows 7.

I just want to say that I have already started this project with 2 Version and currently working on a 3.0 version that is code named "Essence OS Ultralight" as I am deleting almost everything that's useless. But, If I give the NTLite files, my ISO files and all the tweaks I used to build this ISO, will I get approved for not making a scam ISO and I am doing this for the people's enjoyment. If I do get approved, I will link this post to the next Essence OS video I upload both in the video and description to give me an approved thing that proves that my OS isn't broken, malware - contained or disrespecting the Terms and Condition.

If you guys do find an issue with my Windows Built then I will request you, what issue your facing and I will try explaining it. You can ask me anything else I will try sending it as fast I can. I really want to continue this project because I love making it (even though it takes so much time). I'd love see my OS compete with big custom OSs like Ghost Spectre, Altas OS, Tiny11, etc... .

There is a EXE File in the Desktop of the ISO but I can't give to you guys because its too big (109MB).
I have a Discord Server for my YouTube but there you can see what I am doing for Essence OS's 3.0 Version. If you'd like to join, click this link : https://discord.gg/invite/jvmaTXDCDK and type, "I am a NTLite Moderator" and I will give an role if you are willing to stay.

Community Post that I saw before making this post : https://www.ntlite.com/community/index.php?threads/guide-custom-iso-downloads.3484/

I even got a slogan for the OS : "Essence OS, the most essential thing you would need for your PC"

Thanks,
Akshay (Akshay The Best)
 

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Thank you for joining the NTLite community, and being respectful of the rules.

Redistributing any MS copyrighted files, whether a clean ISO or a modded Windows image does violate the licensing agreement and is not legal in most countries that follow intellectual property (IP) laws. NTLite forum does follow these rules in order to avoid any appearance of violating the DCMA as it applies.

Sharing your Windows project by providing the NTLite preset and included files, so everyone can build it for themselves, is the right approach.

There is no requirement to credit NTLite, or provide the NTLite.log (which is simply a record of your processing run). You should always be transparent as whether you're using the free or licensed features, so users understand before downloading it. A modding project can obviously do more debloating with the licensed features, but that's up to you.

Other custom ISO's have the advantage of having more devs, or existed for a longer time. But most of them are no longer open, and harder to modify to your own needs. Have fun with your Essence OS project, and thanks for sharing.
 
I am really happy.

Thank You for giving me an approval for my project for my future viewers that might question my project. I REALLY thank you for giving me this approval. It feels like I won a court case. Can I share this to the discord that I mentioned or any other social media like Whatsapp, to tell this to my friends? If yes, I will do it right way.

Thank you for saying that my approach was the right one and I will say that I used NTLite. This project wouldn't be done with it and I really thank this application.

But, can I delete anything else in the install.wim using 7zip after building the ISO after NTLite or is it considered illegal? But I am not deleting any licensed files or anything that relates to Windows's Branding. I am deleting install.wim internally because even thought they want to replicate my OS, they will never know what to delete or it will simply breaks, for making my OS unique in a way that no other OS or person made it in this way.

Thank You and I will have fun with my Project.
Akshay The Best.
 
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Technically the MS license agreement doesn't allow you to remove Windows files, but it's generally considered fair practice.

The DCMA concerns are mostly about changes to binary files (executables and resource files):
- Adding new features by copying files missing from another Windows edition. For example, adding Pro features to Home edition.​
- Modifying binary files or replacing them with a different version provided by someone else.​
- Config settings and files are exempt from these rules.​

I wouldn't perform file or folder deletions using 7-Zip on an image (I can hear crypticus already). The proper way is to mount the image, remove content from the mount folder, and allow NTLite to rewrite the updated image to the WIM.

If you're performing these steps to perform feature removals that a paid NTLite license already permits, please be respectful and not provide a guide so users aren't encouraged to buy a license. All costs for this forum are paid by direct license fees and renewals.

Simple rule: Just don't be an ass, and everything will be alright.
 
Thank You. I won't change the MS License and I won't leak my ways. The image file will always be an editable WIM. I will respect NTLite and will not encourage future customers to not buy this amazing program's license.

Thanks and I wont be an A** and Everything Will Be Alright.
 
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