Charges dropped in Russian Microsoft Piracy Case

Interesting case from Russia recently where a school principal, Alexander Ponosov, 40, was charged with violating Russia's copyright law for using pirated Microsoft software on school computers. The Russian judge, Vera Barakina, in a regional court in Vereshagino, about 650 miles east of Moscow, ruled that the principal was guilty of installing Windows and software suites on 12 computers used by his students which had cost Microsoft about $9,700, but called this sum "insignificant" compared with Microsoft's worldwide income. The principal, who could have been sentenced to five years in prison, celebrated by uncorking Champagne outside the courthouse! The case resonated widely in Russia, with President Putin calling it "utter nonsense" and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev writing a letter to Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, in which he asked for the company to drop the charges.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-02/16/content_5748322.htm

This case of copyright infringement of software is interesting because the Russian government wants to crack down on illegal software, but prosecutors chose poorly in going after a low-income teacher who has become a folk hero! Microsoft chose to distance itself from the backlash by claiming "it is generally opposed to prosecuting teachers for software piracy". In my opinion, it would have been wiser to go after the distributors of pirated software which would deter others. Also, I disagree with the judge's argument for leniency that Microsoft is a wealthy corporation. That is like arguing that stealing from a rich person is not wrong just because the person can afford it.

Ritu Dhillon