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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.'"
And the TFA gets something wrong.
The blanket license for software builds on a software-donation program Microsoft already has, Smith said. While the company has donated US $390 million worth of software to NGOs in the past year, many nonprofits aren't aware of the program, he wrote. The new blanket license will last until 2012, and Microsoft hopes to move any interested NGOs to the existing software donation program by then, he said.
MS didn't donate anything and they shouldn't get tax breaks (like the likely will) for donating non-existent products. So in other words MS can do nothing and rack up massive tax deductions for doing something that doesn't leave them with anything less.
Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
they should be using free software and with all the hoopla, there would be a big move to free software. Microsoft's move is not only gets them out of the publicity mess building but also curbs a very public discussion of moving off Microsoft software and onto free software. Well played Microsoft, well played.
LoB
"Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
NGOs and organizations representing journalists will have to take no action to get the blanket license. Microsoft software running on their computers will be covered, Smith said.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, this is Slashdot and the parent has a sub 1,000,000 UID - I got it.
RIP America
July 4, 1776 - September 11, 2001
Agree, It's a really good things they are doing.
Like or hate their software, business practices etc they've tried to help here.
So suck it up slash dotters, regardless of the reasons or underlying "side benefits" they are doing something to protect free speech and free press. I thought you Americans thought that stuff was the bees knees?!!
Strikes me as curious that you'd try and find the bad in that!
There's absolutely no justification why Windows accomplishes whatever these groups are doing and Linux does not.
However, in at least some cases, Windows is what they are using, and Microsoft is making sure they can do it without going to a Siberian prison for it.
That's a good thing, unless you think people should go to prison for choosing an OS other than the one you like?