Microsoft: 30 days Activation

Have any of you encountered the upgrade/update from microsoft that requires you to "activate" the program or, presumably, get reduced function: Windows Office XP to be more exact? Well, I am not sure if microsoft is serious or if it is even possible for what they are saying they will do: reduce to one hour useage for Windows (or at least that's the case with Vista). Restoring my computer to an earlier time before the upgrade, seemed to have gotten reed of the problem for me.