Microsoft protects consumers from fraud

MICROSOFT Corp. has announced the filing of 52 lawsuits and the referral of 22 cases to local law enforcement in 22 countries against resellers who allegedly sold counterfeit Microsoft software on various online marketplaces.

In addition, Microsoft announced the release of a new educational guide to help consumers spot and avoid counterfeit software offered on online marketplaces. These announcements are part of Microsoft’s continuing effort to protect consumers from the dangers of counterfeit software and build on Microsoft’s first global enforcement action in 2006 to combat online marketplace piracy.

Fifteen of the 52 lawsuits filed involved software traced to the largest-ever commercial counterfeit syndicate, which was broken up earlier this year by Chinese authorities, the FBI and Microsoft. Through its investigations, Microsoft found that the counterfeit software produced by the Chinese syndicate was distributed in some markets through domestic online sellers. As in the takedown of the Chinese syndicate, Microsoft customers played a role in helping to identify the counterfeiters in these cases by filing piracy reports with Microsoft after anti-piracy technology in Windows Genuine Advantage indicated that their software was fake.

“The criminal syndicate broken up this past summer by Chinese law enforcement and the FBI was linked to a significant amount of illegitimate Internet activity,” said David Finn, associate general counsel for Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting at Microsoft. “We took note of that fact and followed up globally, since we have a responsibility to help combat cyber-pirates who operate without borders and attempt to deceive unsuspecting software consumers around the world.”

RP losing millions of dollars daily due to software piracy

CEBU CITY — The Philippines loses millions of dollars – in lost revenue opportunities daily — just because of software piracy.


But if only most computer users respect intellectual property rights, the country stands to gain an additional $ 25 million in taxes.

Software piracy in the country is incredibly alarming, but the revenue opportunity if software piracy in the country is cut is even much more unbelievable.

For a mere 10 percent reduction in the piracy rate – from 71 to 61 percent -- in four years, the country would earn $ 25 million more.

Still, with the present software piracy rate, total losses reach $ 119 million annually.

These figures are being tossed to the public by Roland Chan, director for marketing in Asia for the Business Software Alliance (BSA), adding that 2,000 new information technology jobs will be created and $ 325 million in sales revenues for local software vendors will be achieved if only software piracy is decelerates to 61 percent from the current 71 rate.

"The Philippine economy will gain a lot by reducing software piracy," said Chan in a press conference in Cebu City Thursday.

The research firm IDC said that software piracy in the Philippines is already alarming with the 71 percent since 2004.

This means that for every 100 computers in the country, 71 are using pirated software, said Chan. "This figure equates to a loss of $ 119 million to the software industry," said Chan.

Despite the existence of the Intellectual Property Rights law in the country, Chan said software piracy is still rampant although he admitted that the government has shown its will power to improve protection of intellectual property rights here.

Chan said it is not the price of original software that pushes an individual or business organization to resort to using pirated software stressing that based on a recent study, the most pirated software are those that are cheap.

An original anti-virus utility software could cost around R1,000 or more but a pirated version sold on sidewalks costs only P80 to P100. But Chan said ignorance of the law and not the price of software is a major factor in piracy. (Mars Mosqueda - Manila Bulletin)

Australia to give away porn-filtering software

Country's IT minister says $86 million allocated for free online downloads of a Web application, yet to be chosen.

The Australian government plans to spend about $86 million to provide all the country's families with free Internet pornography-blocking software.

Helen Coonan, the minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, announced the initiative Wednesday. A representative of Coonan told ZDNet Australia that the first free filters should be available for download from a government portal within six months.

Helen Coonan "It puts a safer Internet experience within the grasp of every Australian family, and it is a solution to the problem posed by Internet pornography that is simple, safe, effective and free," Coonan said in a statement.

"Every parent will be able to receive a free filter for their home computer, (and) there will be child-safe terminals in libraries across Australia."

It's likely that the Australian government will covet political mileage from the initiative, with the minister's release tipping a "comprehensive national community education campaign" designed to "ensure that all Australian families are aware of the benefits of regulating their children's Internet experience by using a safe and effective computer filter."

At this stage, no specific filtering software has been selected for the initiative. The minister's representative said an accreditation process will be put in place. Internet service provider-level filtering will also be an option for customers of providers that offer it.

"Under this scheme, families will be offered a filtered service or a free filter for their home computer, either for download from a dedicated Web site or delivered to them on CD-ROM," Coonan stated. "All ISPs will also be required to offer filters to new and existing customers at no additional cost."

ISPs will be rebated if they choose to offer filtering at a service provider level.

The government's Internet safety agency, NetAlert Limited, will receive a $3.68 million funding boost and become co-located with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

Of the total spending, $68.69 million will be spent on filtering software over three year. Coonan's representative says the program will be reviewed in its third year.

According to the representative, almost no ISPs currently offer any kind of content filtering, so the government will study the feasibility of ISP-level filtering for a fourth time.

Patrick Gray of ZDNet Australia reported from Sydney.

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