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Microsoft To Issue Blanket License To NGOs
itwbennett writes "Following a recent report that Russian police have used software copyright raids to seize computers of activist groups, Microsoft announced it will issue a blanket software license to nonprofit groups and journalist groups outside the US. The new blanket license should remove software piracy as an excuse for 'nefarious actions' by enforcement authorities, Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith wrote. The new license 'cuts in one swoop the Gordian knot that otherwise is getting in the way of our desired handling of these legal issues,' he said. 'The law in Russia (and many other countries) requires that one must provide truthful information about the facts in response to a subpoena or other judicial process. With this new software license, we effectively change the factual situation at hand. Now our information will fully exonerate any qualifying [nonprofit], by showing that it has a valid license to our software.'"
Well, inb4 it's a trap anyway.
I suspect that come next quarter, Microsoft will happily re-interpret this as a massive increase in "sales" of it's Windows 7 licenses, thereby giving its marketing department (and shill squadrons) something to crow about.
It also gives them a means to crow about how they 'cracked down' on piracy, and etc.
(to top that off, I'm sure there's a massive tax write-off in there somewhere as well).
All in all, doing this looks like the best solution for 'em.
Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
What about here at home in the U.S.? If Microsoft wants to protect NGO non-profit's from nefarious actions they should not be so hypocritical as to do it abroad only. There are plenty of dissident non-profit organizations in the U.S. that are subject to nefarious actions by law enforcement all of the time. There are pro-marijuana groups that may be doing nothing illegal in the limelight by producing leaflets and holding rallies that are subject to the scrutiny of law enforcement. In fact, it isn't a crime to dissent in the US. Ah, but once again, everything is profit and loss motivated. Microsoft would be concerned about losing its lucrative government contracts and some of its contracts with business that stands to lose money if certain dissident groups got their way.
... need to do the same. Oh wait, they already have.
now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
How the hell is the parent off topic. Someone needs to give me some more mod points
"We are just a war away from Amerikastan. When god vs god the undoing of man." Dave Mustaine
My first and last comment.
I have to say, as a 62 year old, that I've never seen such an assemblage of cynicism and hurt pussy as I've seen here on /.
The majority here, in my opinion, act as if the world owes them something. As if Countries, States, Corporations, whatever organized entity mentioned should bow down and accept the grace that lives here. In the sense that the world would be such a better place if only all bowed to /.
Like entertainers, coders, no matter how brilliant they may be, tend to think their brilliance in one field, encompasses all.
It doesn't.