[Commons-Law] raids

[tripta]

Following is the news article reporting the grip that microsoft is tightening 
around `piracy'. I have recently started visiting Nehru Place which is the 
hub of software piracy. On my first visit itself, i witnessed a raid (it was 
the second day and was mostly supervision). Along with the uniformed 
policemen there were people in plainscloth. Later I figured out that they 
were staff from Microsoft who were just looking for the pirated software that 
was in circulation.  The agencies and the tactics that are being employed to 
track these are heading to-wards a panoptican situation, if there isn't one 
already!

cheers
tripta
________________________________________________________________

Microsoft on the prowl for unlicensed users in Kerala

By Sanu George, Indo-Asian News Service

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 30 (IANS) In its drive against copyright
infringement, Microsoft has sent undercover legal officials to catch
computer resellers in Kerala using unlicensed versions of the software
giant's programs.

According to industry sources, four computer resellers have already been
fined Rs.30,000 each for selling Microsoft products without licences and
given a stern warning.

"Two people posing as architects arrived at the office of a leading
 computer reseller and asked for the latest personal computer. After the
 machine was supplied with unlicensed software, the two architects
 revealed they were Microsoft officials and took action against the
 reseller," a reseller here told IANS, requesting anonymity.

Sources said four resellers were sent notices and asked to meet the
Microsoft attorney at a resort in suburban Thiruvananthapuram.

"What we have been told is that they were all fined Rs.30,000 and let off
with a warning," said a computer reseller.

The Microsoft officials also visited a few computer institutes here and
gathered information about the sellers who had supplied machines to them.

All Kerala Computer Products and Dealers Association president John
 Kottara said while Microsoft was within its rights to act against
 unlicensed users, the industry was not sure how to respond to these
 undercover checks.

"We have not yet decided how to handle this situation," Kottara said.

J. Salim, who runs an IT institute here, told IANS: "In the long run,
 such raids might hamper the prospects of Microsoft."

He added, "One way is to go in for Linux. This free operating system is
becoming very popular."

--Indo-Asian News Service

-- 
`The moroccans with the carpets
seem like saints
but they're salesman'