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Microsoft Denies Indonesian Amnesty Offer
By David Utter
Expert Author
Article Date: 2005-06-10
One of the worst countries in the world for piracy may get a break at a nominal cost per copy. Or it may not.
Reports in Jakarta claim Microsoft will ask the government to pay $1 per illegal copy of Windows it has on its networks, and that the government will promise to purchase legal copies in the future.
Indonesia's information and communication minister Sofyan Djalil reportedly told the paper: "Microsoft will certify the already-installed illegal software but in the future, all government computers must have legal software produced by the company."
Djalil continuted: "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."
But Microsoft hasn't and won't confirm or comment on the report. A UK-based representative of the company simply said, "We will continue to engage and work with the government of Indonesia."
Then, the company went so far yesterday as to deny the reports made in the Asian press. "The company does not have any amnesty-type government licensing programs in development or under consideration in Indonesia at this time," said Microsoft spokesperson Alexandra Mercer.
About the Author:
David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.
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