Russian teacher accused of piracy

[azzey]

A Russian schoolteacher accused of piracy has won his case in court.
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/9670/1023/
http://www.newsday.com/technology/wire/sns-ap-russia-piracy-microsoft,0,6717416.story?coll=sns-ap-technology-headlines

Original article:
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2007/02/05/poorteacher.shtml
http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2007/2/5/6910

[Galaxian]

pirating is pirating, let one off might as well let everyone off the hook and deem it legal

[PrntRhd]

The Russian legal system has been broken in many ways toward piracy. That being said, the home court advantage is at play and the Russian court did not have any financial stake in enforcing MS' copyright. It also plays well for domestic politics there to stiff the Americans.

[sassie05]

I think they went for the wrong person! Where did the PC's come from. Did the teacher have knowledge of the bootlegging?

[PrntRhd]

He bought the 12 PCs with pirated copies of Windows and Office on them. The school has been fined for the issue, but the prosecutor wanted a criminal conviction.

[Suchy]

Suing a teacher who want to help kids with the usage of computers.
Just think what the people there think of Microsoft now. ;)

[PrntRhd]

Gorbachev wrote Bill Gates re this case per the links supplied, Microsoft replied they did not request the teacher be prosecuted. Gorbachev was satisfied with that reply by Microsoft.
The decision to prosecute was made by the Russian prosecutor, who lost the case.