Yesterday, Microsoft released a refreshed build of Internet Explorer 7 for Windows xp that no longer requires WGA check. If you're wondering why Microsoft decided to do it or why now? Mary Jo Foley has pretty much nailed it.
It's obvious that it's in Microsoft's best interests to let pirates install IE 7 more easily (not that it was impossible) to improve its marketshare rather than let Firefox gain over it due restrictions enforced by Microsoft itself.
So all you pirates out there, if you weren't able to download IE7 for obvious reasons. Get it now!