Bonum Certa Men Certa

Cablegate: Microsoft Uses BSA Numbers to Call Algerians 'Pirates', Pressure for Law Changes



Cablegate



Summary: Algeria is being pressured by US diplomats at the behest of Microsoft Corporation

MICROSOFT AND its own bully, the BSA, are taking on large nations behind the scenes, using bogus data and weak claims (that usage is a lost sale) to portray itself as a victim and then pressure governments to: 1) pay Microsoft for shoddy software they do not need and 2) indoctrinate the population and government employees so that they become dependent on Microsoft in the long run.



The following Cablegate cable shows Microsoft's modus operadi:








VZCZCXRO1615 PP RUEHTRO DE RUEHAS #0190 0501757 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 191757Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5286 INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2555 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0997 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 8809 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 2173 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7025 RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 6228 RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 1474 RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0423 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 3261 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE UNCLAS ALGIERS 000190

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO USTR - PBURKHEAD COMMERCE FOR NMASON

E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON, BEXP, KIPR, ETRD, AG SUBJECT: MICROSOFT'S IPR WOES

REF: 07 ALGIERS 1581

THIS CABLE CONTAINS COMPANY PROPRIETARY INFORMATION NOT TO BE SHARED OUTSIDE USG.

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a February 19 meeting, Microsoft Algeria Director General Samir Said outlined Microsoft's priorities for Algeria and underscored the negative impact weak intellectual property rights (IPR) protection is having on Microsoft's financial bottom line and growth potential. Said estimated that Microsoft is losings tens of millions of dollars each year to software piracy in Algeria and argued that the Algerian government has not demonstrated the political will to enforce IPR. Said stated that, in addition to antipiracy efforts, Microsoft's main priorites are to continue working with the Algerian government (its largest customer in Algeria), to recruit qualified employees, and to revive partnerships with Algerian ICT companies. END SUMMARY.

2. (SBU) Microsoft Algeria DG Samir Said lamented that the Algerian government is not taking stronger action to prevent software piracy and argued that the situation had worsened during 2007. According to a Business Software Alliance Survey, the rate of software piracy increased slightly from 2006 to 2007, from 84 percent to 85 percent. Said stated that "losses are huge" and asserted that Microsoft is losings tens of millions of dollars each year. Said estimated that a 10 percent reduction in software piracy -- from the current estimate of 85 percent to 75 percent -- would yield an additional 25 million USD in annual profits.

3. (SBU) Said emphasized that Algeria is an important market for Microsoft and that there is clear potential here if the Algerian government provides greater support for IPR protection. While he noted that there is a trend towards purchasing licensed software in government ministries, licenses have only been purchased as part of new system purchases and many ministries continue to use unlicensed software on previously purchased computers. Said stated that he is not seeing any will to enforce IPR protection in terms of software licensing. He told us that none of the estimated 50 to 60 thousand home personal computers sold as part of the Algerian government's "Ousratic" initiative to expand home PC-ownership were sold with Microsoft-licensed software. Although Microsoft informed the Minister of Communications Technology of this breach, Said said that the government has not taken any action to enforce compliance. During the October visit of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (reftel), the Algerian government promised to address enforcement, but Said stated he had seen no change since then. He added that he often hears the argument that Microsoft must give a "good price," but in the end licensed software will always be more expensive than the pirated version.

4. (SBU) Said stated that, in addition to antipiracy efforts, Microsoft Algeria's main priorities are to continue working with the Algerian government, recruit qualified employees, and revive partnerships with Algerian ICT companies. Between ministries and state-owned enterprises, the government remains Microsoft's largest customer in Algeria and Microsoft will continue to work with it despite IPR concerns. Said echoed an oft-heard complaint in saying that he is unable to find qualified employees among recent graduates. Although there are nearly 2500 graduates with degrees in ICT, according to Said, there are few who have the skills required to be competitive in the job market. Microsoft Algeria is also interested in partnering with Algerian ICT companies to help promote local software development; however, Said noted that this goal is dependent upon improved IPR protection.

5. (SBU) COMMENT: Serious antipiracy efforts in Algeria are critical not only for Microsoft but for Algeria's economy writ large. Although the Algerian government has stated its intent to develop the local ICT sector, rising rates of software piracy will do little to encourage the necessary investment or technology transfer. The Embassy's Special 301 Review (septel) will address the Algerian government's overall IPR protection efforts. FORD







That last part is very typical and it is seen in many cables. Microsoft is trying to say that if the government pays Microsoft a lot of money, then opportunities will open up for the nation. That's a just load of propaganda, injected by public officials at the behest of Microsoft.

Recent Techrights' Posts

Dystopian Trends in Technology Make Richard Stallman More Relevant Than Ever
It's good to see him attracting vast audiences
Richard Stallman (RMS) Announced His Talk Less Than 24 Hours Before It Took Place and Still Filled Up the Auditorium at Sapienza Università di Roma
Photos from yesterday evening [...] It looks like it was a very successful event
 
Rhonda D'Vine, Gerfried Fuchs, Pronouns & Debian pregnancy cluster
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
At IBM, Relocation Means Layoffs (Downsizing)
Silent or 'invisible' layoffs?
Central Staff Committee of the European Patent Office (EPO) Warns That EPO Management is Robbing or Manipulating Pension Funds Again
Faking "growth" is just about as bad as forgery
Probably a Lot Worse Than LLM Slop: GNOME Tying Itself to Divisive Politics, Even Where It's Clearly Not Relevant
Something has gone terribly wrong in GNOME
Links 14/10/2025: Microsoft OneDrive Scanning Faces in Photos (Without Asking First), "OpenAI Says It Will Move to Allow Smut"
Links for the day
They Generally Don't Like Scholars, as They're Less Compelled or Pressured to Repeat What Corporations and Oligarchs Say
People who loathe scholars have an agenda in mind that, unlike that of reasonable people, revolves around controlling people
Belated New Article About Last Thursday's Lecture by Richard Stallman in Helsinki, Finland
there are good reasons to pay with cash, not limited to privacy
Attacking Richard Stallman Has Become 'Career Suicide'
If you're going to viciously attack somebody, make sure your arguments are rock-solid
Microsoft's Failing XBox Business Has Turned Games Into Funerals
How does it feel to depend on Microsoft?
Yesterday's "Distinguished Lecture" by Richard Stallman Possibly Attended by Close to 1,000 People
The capacity of the place is about 900
Slop Poisons Everything
Imagine wanting to find what Torvalds has just said or what has just been released
Taking Software Freedom 'Mainstream'
interest in Software Freedom must have grown
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, October 13, 2025
IRC logs for Monday, October 13, 2025
Gemini Links 14/10/2025: Ada Lovelace Day, Sony CLIE PEG-TG50 Review, Why to Avoid Network Solutions
Links for the day
The EPO's War on Techrights Was a Massive Mistake
The EPO started the SLAPPs after we had published a few hundreds of articles; we've since then published close to 6,000 because the attacks on us emboldened insiders to help us
General-Purpose Computers to Become Growing Area of Coverage
Without them, we have little left for controlling our lives
"They missed a great opportunity to shut up." -Jacques Chirac
Brett Wilson LLP has been trying to cheat the legal system many times
Harassment evidence: Switzerland, overcrowded fitness and yoga centers, incompetence and racism in accident response
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Vincent Danjean & Debian NXIVM collateral, blackmail risks
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
In Sweden This Past Friday Richard Stallman Explained Why Copyleft is Important
And he didn't have to 'bash' BSDs, either
IBM Layoffs Due to a Lack of Money and Company Debt Rising by Almost 10 Billion Dollars in 6 Months
IBM didn't buy Red Hat for any ideological reasons; it was a fast "cash grab" for revenue
Forbes Already Stopped Being a News Sites. Now It's a Spam and Propaganda Platform for "Paying Partners" (Companies).
news from Forbes became very scarce
Is the Second-Largest Institution in Europe (EPO) Gradually Becoming More Like a Sweatshop?
Underpaid, unqualified, inexperienced and incompatible people are already recruited to replace veteran examiners
The Register MS Has No FOSS Coverage Anymore
The Editor in Chief is like a Microsoft plant
Links 13/10/2025: "Toasty Subwoofer" and WiFi Speakers "Are About To Go Dumb"
Links for the day
Gemini Links 13/10/2025: iNaturalist and Tove Jansson’s Moominpappa at Sea
Links for the day
Microsoft Does Not Deny That Large Retailers Like Walmart, Costco and Target Are Giving Up on XBox (and Not Stocking It)
No doubt XBox is in trouble and rumours suggest that more mass layoffs are imminent
We'll Encourage Richard Stallman to Talk About Software Patents at the EPO Next Week When He Visits Munich (EPO Headquarters)
Go listen to Richard Stahlmann
Investigative Journalism Protects Society From Corruption, Crimes Against Women, Assaults on Civil Society
"what is the point of men doing military practice to defend a system that is so rotten?"
Swiss pimp usurping reputation of legendary Tissot boss Francois Thiébaud from France (BaselWorld, SWATCH Group SA)
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Paris 'Love Nest' & Debian Outreachy: from Lycée Lakanal to ENS Cachan, Cr@ns, nepotism
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Richard Stallman to Give Public Talk in 3 Hours, Then in the Technical University of Munich (Germany) Next Week
Richard Stallman at TUM on 21.10.2025 18:00, MW2001
Arnaud Parreaux lost case defending rogue employer
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Mathieu Elias Parreaux declared bankrupt in Switzerland
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Breakdown of the Rule of Law and Patent Law in the European Union (EU)
The EPO cannot recruit suitably qualified patent examiners this way, let alone retain them
Gemini Links 13/10/2025: Good Films, Wizard of Earthsea, Upgrading the Steam Controller's Stick
Links for the day
Leaks and Whistleblowers: Our Plan for Today
Society simply cannot advance when too many people self-censor
It's Not Justice When One Side Denies the Other Side the Ability to Even Speak
At this stage, Brett Wilson LLP is in my humble opinion acting in contempt of the Court
Links 13/10/2025: Australian Catholic University Uses Slop to Libel Students, Canada Threatens to Kill Beluga Whales
Links for the day
How Not to Silence Tux Machines (It'll Only Backfire, Badly)
defending Microsoft while attacking this site
Slopwatch: UbuntuPIT and Google News
It seems abundantly clear that Google News and Google in general participates in the slop epidemic
Vincent Danjean (not INTERPOL), Claire Bardel & Debian pregnancy cluster
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Christmas lynchings: Martin Krafft (madduck), Penny Leach (mjollnir) & Debian pregnancy cluster
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Gemini Links 13/10/2025: Birthdays and "Committee Unable to Contact Nobel Prize Winner"
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, October 12, 2025
IRC logs for Sunday, October 12, 2025
The Same People Who Attacked Richard Stallman (RMS) Are Attacking Daniel Pocock to Discourage People From Listening to His Information
Pocock is being demonised for the same reasons and by the same people who attack RMS
Your Typical Anti-Richard Stallman (RMS) Cancellist
"About the RMS cancellation"
Richard Stallman (RMS) Has Announced His Talk in Rome Less Than 20 Hours in Advance (and on a Sunday)
Why did he wait until the night before?
We Are Safe in a Modern "Tech" Society, Right?
People are safer if they control their own computing
GNU Tools Cauldron Event in Portugal: Videos Now Available via Invidious
Go have a look
The Way Things Are Going, They May Soon Stop Saying "Web Address" and Instead Say "Chrome Address"
The Web isn't built or based around open Web standards anymore. It's centered around user-agent.
Microsoft as a Golden Cage
"I was laid off by Microsoft and can't find a job. I'm weeks away from giving up my apartment and moving across the country to live with family."
Weekend Discussion About How IBM's Bluewashing of Red Hat Will Cause "Enshittification" for Users
"I worked at a software company that was acquired by IBM so I knew it was game over for RedHat the day they were acquired"
Brett Wilson LLP Getting Sued by Its Very Own Clients, a Legal Story That Has Made the Mainstream News (Law360)
Law360 or Law.com are about as mainstream as one can get in that "sector" (litigation 'industry')
Slopwatch: GNU/Linux Sites That Became Slopfarms and Spamfarms
The Web is a mess and "Linux" or "Ubuntu" sites became part of the problem
Richard Stallman's Talk 25 Hours Away, Aula Magna Palazzo del Rettorato (CU001), Sapienza Università di Roma (Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5)
The talk is 25 hours away and we see some QR code for it
Gemini Links 12/10/2025: Watches, the Depression of 2026, Gamboling with Odds
Links for the day
Links 12/10/2025: 'False' DMCA Claims and Slop Facing Perils Again (the Hype Wears Off)
Links for the day
Microsoft Has Just Lost Privacy Case in Austria and Its Latest Moves Make a Complete Ban Seem Imperative
Microsoft is not a software company, it's a spying agency that uses software to collect data
The Register MS: Microsoft is the Security Expert, Not the Prime Culprit, So Buy More Microsoft
This front page feature is devoid of any actual substance, it's just Microsoft copypasta
Stefano Zacchiroli (Zack) & Debian pregnancy cluster
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Lucas Nussbaum & Debian pregnancy cluster
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Gemini Links 12/10/2025: "Palm Computering", Further Exploration of Slide Rules, and Key Takeaways from The Well-Grounded Rubyist
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, October 11, 2025
IRC logs for Saturday, October 11, 2025
Tomorrow: Founder of the Free Software Foundation and of GNU/Linux, Richard Stallman, Speaks in Roma (Rome), Italy at 4PM
GNU/Linux is more important than ever in this dystopian world
Microsoft and Apple Are Rare Topics in Geminispace
in Geminispace it's rather safe to assume everyone is into BSD, GNU/Linux, and sometimes retro