Microsoft Authorizes Nonprofits to Use Free Licenses

Microsoft expanded on its project to avoid anti-dissent piracy crackdowns by expanding its coverage to 12 more countries. In addition to Russia, the pledge is now extending to China, Malaysia, Vietnam and eight former Soviet states.

The plicy will provide free licensed software technologies from its workshopas free software licenses to more than 500,000 advocacy groups, independent media outlets and other nonprofit organizationsbefore so that piracy can’t be used as a pretext to stamp out political opposition.

Ater the New York Times reported last month that private lawyers employed by the company had usually supported law enforcement officials in Russia in crackdowns on outspoken advocacy groups and opposition newspapers, Microsoft made decision to extend its antipiracy policy.

Once installed, these licensed technologies will give no right to the governmental authorities to investigate these groups on account of limiting piracy activities.

“We clearly have a very strong interest in ensuring that any antipiracy activities are being done for the purpose of reducing illegal piracy, and not for other purposes,” said Nancy J. Anderson, a deputy general counsel and vice president at Microsoft. “Under the terms of our new nongovernmental organization software license, we will definitely not have any claims and not pursue any claims against nongovernmental organizations.”

The effort won’t take immediate effect, Nancy noted that the efforts still have to accommodate the law and receive local translations.