yeah... it is a lesson for everyone.... On Feb 28, 9:51 am, Bal Krishna Bal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I wish the incident had occurred in Nepal so that the policy makers once > and forever understood the evils of proprietory software. Its like it > does not pain until one of the family members is actually inflicted. > -Bal > > rajib shrestha wrote: > > Hurray!! foss users..... > > > On 2/27/07, *Bipin Gautam* <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote: > > > Subject: [Reader-list] Microsoft lost! Linux wins? > > > There has been moderately active Linux community in Russia, with > > availability of cheap hardware and good programming skills. However, > > there has been little government or institutional support, and a lack > > of understanding of why one would want not to use Windows. But not > > anymore. > > > Runet and Russian official media have been flooded with discussions > > and instructions on open source, and what it would take to drop > > Microsoft 'soft' altogether. All this has been prompted by the recent > > legal case of 'Microsoft versus Ponosov'. Alexander Ponosov is a > > school director from a Perm' region (Ural mountains), who does not > > seem to be an 'advanced' Windows user himself (which in Russia > > usually means word, exel and powerpoint). However, he was charged > > with violating Microsoft copyright, and under the current legal > > provision could be sentenced for 5 years in jail. Plus Micrisoft side > > demanded 266.593.63 roubles (presumably calculated to equal 10.000 > > dollars, but the dollar is falling), from a school director whose > > salary is probably 200-300 dollars per month (at best!). > > > What is it all about? 20 computers in his school computer lab, with > > illegal copies of Windows, claims Microsoft side, that violates > > piracy law and its IP. > > > It started as a quiet case, but gradually became a matter of national > > concern. It became about "American multi-national mammoth > > corporation" against "a little man" of our own. The fact that Ponosov > > (whose name, curiously, might be translated both as related to 'nose' > > as well as 'diarrhea' that is widely referred to in Runet) looked > > like he had no clue what it is all about, was an 'ordinary' man, > > making very little money in a remote secondary school, unconnected to > > IT sector, showed how unwise Microsoft actions were. Until then > > Russia was demonstratively trying hard to fit Western IP laws. But 5 > > years in jail for 20 computers in a school lab? > > > First, Russian bloggers started flooding Microsoft with letters that > > they all use pirated Windows, and that they are ready to go to jail > > for Ponosov. He had no idea what was on those computers, while they, > > real programmers and IT geeks, know what they are doing. Take me! > > Leave a poor school teacher alone! they were typing and e-mailing off. > > > Second, Russian television and press jumped on this out of control, > > pressing local authorities to think further (at first it seemed as if > > Microsoft surely had the case, and would win it. Ponosov was visibly > > worried that he would lose). > > > Microsoft corporation still had no comment, saying it is handled by > > its office in Moscow. > > > Third, Gorbachev wrote an open letter to Bill Gates, asking him to > > personally interfere, and stop the case. Putin called the case "dog's > > rubbish". > > > It was becoming an international scandal for Microsoft. And Bill > > Gates in his reply to Gorbachev distanced himself and his corporation > > from this case, arguing that it was started by Russians against > > Russians, and Microsoft had nothing to do with it. > > > Meanwhile, Ponosov was becoming more and more visible and vocal, > > giving interviews to BBC and other major media. > > > About two weeks ago a judge ruled that this case should be dismissed, > > since the charges (10,000 dollars and 5 years in jail) were > > unreasonable. > > > Ponosov is unhappy and plans to appeal, he wants to be declared > > 'innocent'. Microsoft lost a very important case, made more important > > by its own making. And Russian officials, schools and Runet are busy > > discussing what it would take NOT to use Windows. They are not sure > > yet, and they feel it is a difficult task (Office price is about 5 > > dollars for a pirated copy). But they've started discussing it. For > > the first time so seriously and openly. > > > Irina Aristarkhova > > > PS. This is a short extract from one of the letters to Moscow > > Microsoft head Olga Dergunova: > > > "Respected and Dear Olga, > > > My name is Sasha, I live in Mitischi (near Moscow), and I am 30 years > > old. I have never - you hear me? never - bought any licensed > > software. And I never will. Let me know if you want my passport > > number, my address, and go ahead, sue me. I'd be only happy. I have > > about 15 unlicensed Microsoft products installed on my laptop. All of > > it - pirated. I am not ashamed, and please do not tell me about > > programmers who want to eat. ... Sue me, not Ponosov. And sue another > > one million people like me. It is not about love: that we do not love > > you personally, or Bill Gates - abstractly. We love everybody. It is > > you who hate us." (translated from a full letter and a blog at > > http://forum.msk.ru/material/news/19486.html)
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