Microsoft and E-waste, nuclear take
If you read between the lines, the guy fell foul of Microsoft's Licence agreement. You see, Microsoft run their licenced refurbisher program. You have to take an exam, enter COA details and who knows what else.
If he wanted to avoid trouble, he could have just stuck with Linux and he could have avoided a 15-month prision term, which seems light in comparison to many..but still a lot for essentially a white-collar crime.