Ms has a clear message for the channel where it expects them to sell genuine software or be ready to face the music. Sant outlines the reason for taking this stand and how Microsoft goes about getting partners' buy in for its Go Genuine business drive

How is the uptake for the genuine software business been so far?
According to the BSA numbers, we have reduced piracy in 2009 from 2008 by one percent. But there is a nuance to this number. While the actual reduction is in percentage points, from 69 to 68 percent, IDC increased the PC shipment estimate last year. So in reality this one percent would be two to three percentage points.

There is no reason to say that what we have done with the local associations has connected very well with the channel. And we have seen a reduction of piracy in the business and some partners who were not doing business with us have joined us.

Microsoft has three pillars for its anti- piracy drive-educate, engineer and enforce. Are you focusing on them to reduce piracy?
We are focusing on all three equally. Engineering is what gets done at the product level. So we are planning to have a transition from Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) engine to Windows Activation Technology (WAT) now.

Basically for end-users it is still the same thing. At an activation level, they still have to activate Windows. At a notification level they still get notified whether their OS is genuine or not.

The WAT is better as it does not let a user tamper with the activation and if a user does that, the engine reports the machine as having a pirated copy. The notification part of the engine has been changed so that a user gets notified more often and it is more value-added in nature. So as far as engineering is concerned we have been very successful.

Of course enforcement continues. If you ask whether we have dialled up or low on this drive, then we have been kind of stable on this end.

What is the mechanism of enforcement that is applied?
We issue notices to the partners who have been found selling pirated software and ask them to come for a discussion. We do not put a number telling them this is the amount of business you have to do. The conversation is about how much of your software business will be genuine.

It is true that partners caught selling pirated Microsoft software are fined and then forced to take up material for a certain value?
We expect genuine business from them. We don't say that they have to sell only Microsoft-they are free to sell anything they want. But we are clear that if they are caught the next time there will not be any across the table discussion; we will have to take them to the court.

The bone of contention amongst partners is not that they have been asked to pay a fine, which they agree to as they have been caught doing something they should not have. They are unhappy that they are asked to buy a few lakh worth of Microsoft products and sell that. We take a commitment from them that they will not sell pirated copies from here on and if they do that then we will take them to court.

How many partners who have been issued notices for selling pirated software have moved away from selling your products?
We do not have these numbers as well, but I don't think that it will be more than one percent.

Vinita Bhatia
vinitavs@cybermedia.co.in

Page(s)   1