AfterDawn: News

Indian PC dealers oppose Microsoft anti-piracy tactics

Computer dealers in Gujarat, India, have reportedly staged a one-day strike in protest over recent Microsoft anti-piracy efforts. The Redmond-based software giant recently sent notices to about 6 PC dealers in Gujarat accusing them of selling pirated copies of Windows. The company demands a payment of 200,000 Rupee ($4,955) and a fine of 1,600,000 Rupee ($39,638) if the vendors continued to sell pirated copies of the OS.

Microsoft conducted its investigation by sending a dummy customer into the stores asking for a copy of Windows be installed on their PC. "We are not against piracy but against the way Microsoft is working to stop it," South Gujarat Information Technologists Association (SITA) president Bharat Randheri told itVARnews. "Moreover, if they want to do business in India then they should change their prices and policies according to the Indian market. We are the one who are promoting their products in the market and if they will behave in such a rash manner with us then we will stop business with them."



One retailer claimed that they are actually helping Microsoft by installing the software on customers PCs. "Since we are are not charging anything extra for installing the software, it means that we are actually not trading in pirated software. For us this is just a sewa (selfless act) that we are offering to our customers. Besides, the pricing of their operating systems is way too high for the Indian markets," he said.

Source:
The Register

Written by: James Delahunty @ 20 May 2007 18:59

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• 21 comments

• thekingo7

  I really think its sad that Microsoft is pursuing this, India is the least of their problems right now. And the store owners aren't even charging for the software, Microsoft isn't losing anything so why do they care.
  
  I'm assuming its a lack of soul.

  21.5.2007 03:59 #1

• Leech83

  This is an intriguing post,
  like thekingo7 stated, as in the text, that the PC dealers are not even charging for the service.
  
  India along with China have one of the fastest growing economies on the world, i think the current GDP aim is 8% (china just over 9%, correct me if im wrong.)
  
  You would assume that Microsoft would use this as an advantage, or an opportunity for huge publicity, surely that is worth more than the wanted compensation of $39,638.

  21.5.2007 05:10 #2

• spydah

  This reminds me of when Microsoft sued that company which i dont remember its name for giving away its OS. M$ said they are screwing with the integrity of sales by major companies like them. All M$ keeps doing is dictating to the public. They want to control every inch business thats PC related. I agree that India truly is the least of their worries. This just shows how bad big business is.

  21.5.2007 05:16 #3

• tefarko

  piracy and price walk side by side...
  
  so Micro$oft outsources to India because it´s cheaper and can´t lower the sale price for the same cheaper market?... nice...

  21.5.2007 05:21 #4

• Leech83

  Quote:piracy and price walk side by side... I think most worldwide organisations thrive for this.
  
  its like the saying goes "No such thing as bad publicity", there must be several people who have seen MS in news such as this and thought, "ahh i need this that etc"
  
  I suppose one good side of piracy is that it payback to the huge companies like MS. There are a huge amount of dodgy windows Rips evrywhere you look. but on the other hand their the authors of the product so from the Law aspect, they can do what they want.
  
  Most items, (software etc) brought are only Licences anyway, so we dont actually own the item.

  21.5.2007 05:32 #5

• borhan9

  Quote:"Moreover, if they want to do business in India then they should change their prices and policies according to the Indian market.This is exactly what i am saying about their pricing you have to make it affordable for people and then they will purchase legit copies of the Operating System.
  
  Edit

  21.5.2007 14:14 #6

• Leech83

  @Borhan9
  
  Quote:This is exactly what i am saying about their pricing you have to make it affordable for people and then they will purchase legit copies of the Operating System. Of all places they are going after they choose Chuddie Land. Come on you should pick on your own size.
  I agree with your comments, however the term highlighted above sound very offensive, and just outright rude, being an "afterdawn addict", you should have some respect and common sense, unless you became an addict by writing bogus posts.
  

  Epox 8KRA2+ Tagan TG480 PSU Athlon XP 2800+ CoolerMaster Aero 7+ GeForce6800XT Crucial RAM 320GB Barracuda 7200.10 Philips 190B LCD >>>> Still running Smooth :)
  NDS Lite M3 Simple
  Xbox v1.1 Xenium ICE
  PS2 V5 Duo3 - my first ps2 Solder attempt was a success, wohooooo!!!!!

  22.5.2007 08:03 #7

• borhan9

  @Leech83 & All
  
  Quote:I agree with your comments, however the term highlighted above sound very offensive, and just outright rude, being an "afterdawn addict", you should have some respect and common sense, unless you became an addict by writing bogus posts.I just want to apologise to you and anyone who took offense to this comment i had made not out try to get at people but just a joke. The truth of the matter is i love India and i am very passionate about the culture. I went to India at the end on 2005 and it was the time of my life.
  
  Chuddie basically means Underwear and i use this term very loosley and i say that to everything including my family but i do not say it with any offense to anyone i just use it with humor attached.
  
  Thankyou once again and sorry for the offense i caused anyone here.
  

  Edited by DVDBack23
  
  
  "the mediocre teacher tells. the good teacher explains. the superior teacher demonstrates. the great teacher inspires."- William Aruthur Ward

  22.5.2007 13:32 #8

• Leech83

  @ borhan9
  
  nice to see that you have apologised.
  I felt it was necessary to mention, and was not an attempt to start a flame, but from the way it was written it seemed offensive. As you stated it was a joke, just write (joke) next to the comment for future reference, I'm sure most people can take jokes :)
  
  Again, it was good of you to apologies.

  22.5.2007 13:54 #9

• borhan9

  Originally posted by Leech83:@ borhan9
  
  nice to see that you have apologised.
  I felt it was necessary to mention, and was not an attempt to start a flame, but from the way it was written it seemed offensive. As you stated it was a joke, just write (joke) next to the comment for future reference, I'm sure most people can take jokes :)
  
  Again, it was good of you to apologies.No worries. Like i said it was ment to be taken lightley :) but its all good thanxs :)

  22.5.2007 14:40 #10

• thekingo7

  Borhan are you Indian I was just wondering.
  

  
  

  22.5.2007 19:05 #11

• borhan9

  Originally posted by thekingo7:Borhan are you Indian I was just wondering.No im not im a persian (Iranian) but mum was brought up in india and i was brought up with both the persian and indian cultures.
  

  Edited by DVDBack23
  
  
  "the mediocre teacher tells. the good teacher explains. the superior teacher demonstrates. the great teacher inspires."- William Aruthur Ward

  22.5.2007 20:13 #12

• thekingo7

  Ah I see.
  

  
  

  23.5.2007 03:57 #13

• bstringer

  Seems to me that no one acknowledges that the Windows OS is the intellectual property of Microsoft and as such they are not out of line if they go after dealers that install copies of their software on machines that they are selling (and deriving profit). I have no idea what sort of dealer pricing MS has for India but if that pricing is out of line there is always the option of Linux. Stating that MS is not losing anything is a joke. The dealer gains a sale by bundling a, "free" copy of Windows while Microsoft loses a sale.

  24.5.2007 17:30 #14

• subman

  Originally posted by bstringer: I have no idea what sort of dealer pricing MS has for India I am from Mumbai, India and XP Pro Retail sells here for about US$150 and Vista 32bit Ultimate sells for around US$350. I am sure more than 90% of the Indian population dont earn the Vista selling amount in a month. Fat chance M$ has of selling Vista Ultimate in India. :)

  24.5.2007 17:57 #15

• bstringer

  Quote:I am from Mumbai, India and XP Pro Retail sells here for about US$150 and Vista 32bit Ultimate sells for around US$350. I am sure more than 90% of the Indian population dont earn the Vista selling amount in a month. Fat chance M$ has of selling Vista Ultimate in India. :) I doubt that the 90% you mention is able to purchase a computer either.

  24.5.2007 18:11 #16

• Tashammer

  "Moreover, if they want to do business in India then they should change their prices and policies according to the Indian market. We are the one who are promoting their products in the market and if they will behave in such a rash manner with us then we will stop business with them."
  
  
  i love the attitude reflected in the above quote and wonder why more western countries don't take on board the same attitude instead of allowing lawyers and accountants to dictate. Return lawyers to law clerks and accountants to bookkeepers with the necessary reduction in income teach the buggers a little humility.
  
  i have to say that i like that word "chuddy" - chuddy gates and chuddy balmer and chuddy RIAA. The world is turning into knickers... are you out of breath? No, i am just underpanting!

  24.5.2007 19:54 #17

• subman

  Originally posted by Tashammer:i have to say that i like that word "chuddy" The way we prounce "chuddy" is ...
  
  "ch" as the ch in change
  "uddy" like the uddy of buddy
  :)

  24.5.2007 20:10 #18

• borhan9

  Quote:"Moreover, if they want to do business in India then they should change their prices and policies according to the Indian market.This is exactly the point i am trying to put across. If they want people to buy their product they have to bring the price to the level where majority of society can afford it.
  
  p.s
  
  I did not mean for the comment i made about chuddies to be taken this far. It was said out of jist and humor. I love India and what it has to offer. If i had another chance to go back their i would be on the next plane out.

  24.5.2007 21:38 #19

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by spydah:This reminds me of when Microsoft sued that company which i dont remember its name for giving away its OS. M$ said they are screwing with the integrity of sales by major companies like them. All M$ keeps doing is dictating to the public. They want to control every inch business thats PC related. I agree that India truly is the least of their worries. This just shows how bad big business is.
  -------------------------------------------------------------------
  the media mafia dose the same with music and video if they do not make a profit off it they will stop people from seeing it!

  25.5.2007 00:02 #20

• ZDnexus

  Imagine of Coca Cola and other soft drink companies were to charge the same amount of money in US Dollars, would anyone be able to afford them. Even foreign pharmaceutical companies do not charge the same as they do in their country of origin.
  Microsoft does not following the pattern of those companies. It wants to be paid in US Dollars.
  The problem with Microsoft's policy is that it does not consider the value of bulk sales. It should take into account volume of sale. A million people own computers - but not all of them can afford genuine Microsoft software. Microsoft wants to be paid per individual, they want money for running Microsoft software - there probably are a million users or more. In a country the size of India - how can Microsoft raid every home and snatch software. Microsoft's agents should be jailed for violation of privacy. Microsoft reminds one of the robber barons of colonial times.
  There is Linux a free software and the people of India should dump Microsoft and other companies which seek to be paid on-line. None of the anti-virus programmes are available in the market some are out of date - the anti-virus companies charge annually in US Dollars.
  If America wants to sell its products in this way then it should think about hundreds of millions of people in India who do have electricity in their homes - they cannot expect light bulb to remain lighted, leave alone be able to rely on a computer to remain switched on.
  First there should reliable electricity, once that happens - how are people going to be convinced to purchase a computer when the software meant to operate it is more expensive than the computer itself?
  There is something seriously wrong in the way Microsoft marketing people think.

  1.8.2008 17:58 #21