Microsoft is Breaking Laws, Uses the 'Pirate' Word in Same Way That 'Terrorism' is Used to Pass Crazy Laws
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz
- 2011-03-17 09:22:07 UTC
- Modified: 2011-03-17 09:22:07 UTC
Summary: Microsoft daemonises people who use Microsoft software (even though they would never have paid for it anyway); in the process, Microsoft smashes existing laws and harms many other companies for its own convenience
OVER the past couple of years we have written extensively about Microsoft's deception regarding counterfeiting. In many cases, counterfeiting is good for Microsoft and the company sometimes admits this publicly. For instance, regarding China Bill Gates said: “They’ll get sort of addicted, and then we’ll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade.” Based on Microsoft-funded statistics, IE6 continues to thrive in China largely due to counterfeiting. "No, it’s not illegal copying that keeps IE6 going in China," wrote Pogson, "Surely illegal copiers would choose something better to copy."
There is new media whitewash at the moment, seeking to portray the big bully from the northwest as a poor victim and champion of ethics. In fact, Microsoft plays this card of right now by claiming to fight "pirates" (who would not support a war on people who hijack boats, rape, and kill?) while sceptics correctly point out that
Microsoft is just harming everyone this way:
Microsoft is pushing a couple of bills (PDFs: SB5449 and HB1495) in the 2011 Legislature that could severely burden struggling businesses in the name of easing its challenge of curbing illegal overseas copies of its software.
Software piracy is a regrettable problem, but Microsoft’s proposed legislative solution is unworkable and misplaced.
But who would not support a piece of legislation which calls valued users "pirates"? They accuse the victim of heinous crimes for something Microsoft endorses and benefits from greatly.
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Comments
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2011-03-17 13:23:08
The inclusion of Microsoft and Microsoft partners invalidates whatever criteria was used. Non free software is inherently unethical but Microsoft's long history of judicial extortion, blackmail, technical sabotage, press manipulation, partner betrayal and other dishonest practices would set the company above average US company misconduct. Other companies on the list that actually have ethical leadership should be ashamed of the company they are keeping and quietly refuse to participate in the future.