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Microsoft Sets Value Of Pirated Windows: $1
nick_davison writes "The BBC is reporting that Microsoft has reached a deal with the Indonesian government on pirated software - which is believed to affect around 50,000 government PCs. Under the deal, Indonesia will pay $1 per copy and agree to buy legally in the future. Indonesia's information minister, Sofyan Djalil, said, "Microsoft is being realistic. They can't force developing countries like us to solely use legal software since we can't afford it. They want us to gradually reduce our use of it." Somehow it seems unlikely the same rules will be applied to developing companies and poorer individuals in the United States."
And her exact words (after a five minute rant about how the guy was an asshole) were, and I quote:
"Damnit this is awful. But it sounds about right. After that damned Suharto ran off with $30 billion dollars, there was no way in hell we could ever afford to pay for anything. But still, better for him to steal it than Microsoft."
They couldn't afford it, so they used pirated copies. The agreed to pay $1 for the 50,000 copies they have now, and agree to pay licensing for future upgrade.
If they couldn't afford it now, how will they affor it in the future?
And, what's to say, I can't afford Windows, so, can I pay $1? They got to, why can't I?
"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." -- Sigmund Freud
I've been to Indonesia briefly. If I remember correctly, one dollar translates to about 10,000 Rupies, which will buy you a pretty good meal just about anywhere, or an unreliable CD containing mp3s of every Bob Marley song ever recorded, or 10 packs of ramen (ramen costs the same everywhere in the world), or about 5 or 10 angkot rides, or more biskuat than you can eat in one sitting. I stayed a few days in a hotel in Batu Karas for about about $4-$5 a night for a room shared with a couple friends. You can buy antibiotics for about a dollar or so I believe.
I didn't see many computers there, so I don't know if Linux is very well established, but no one cares about piracy over there. The percieved cost of windows is about the same as the percieved cost of Linux: whatever it costs to get a burned copy from a street vendor. "Joe sixpack" is unlikely to own a computer (though TVs are very common), but if he does, he'll probably use whatever everyone else is using, which is probably Windows.
I'm from Indonesia, even here I think only a few people buy legal, indonesian version of windows. Compared to pirated version it's still expensive. Please don't think that company over here is too poor to buy the software, they can buy $2000,- worth hardware. It's just not feasible under Indonesian business practice. It's cheaper to pay the authorities (read: corrupted police officer) than to pay microsoft. Mind you, this is one of the most corrupted goverment in the world, and the standard average salary in the goverment is very low
Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching
I don't know why Americans always talk about "legal" copies of Windows, music, and so on, like it's some universal absolute. Legal depends on the jurisdiction, and there are at least 200 countries that are not the United States.
If Indonesia decides that copying Windows is legal, then it's legal there.
He who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.