Chennai,
May 8th, 2007

Confed-ITA (earlier known as Tamil Nadu Information Technology Associate, TANITA) and Microsoft have come together to control software piracy in Tamil Nadu. A decision on this was taken in the recently concluded meeting between Confed-ITA, a confederation of all regional channel associations in Tamil Nadu and Microsoft, at Coimbatore. "This is our first step in bringing Microsoft to talk with the association and help control software piracy to protect resellers' interests, especially against the vendor initiated piracy raids," said S Karthikeyan, the newly elected President of Confed-ITA.

Sources close to Microsoft confirmed the news. "Microsoft is open to talk to anyone who is ready to support and work with us in our anti-piracy initiatives. Channels play a key role in controlling piracy, since they are contact points for customers. Microsoft is working with many regional associations across the country, in a similar kind of exercise," said an official at Microsoft.

It is understood that Confed-ITA has given some proposals to Microsoft, to control software piracy and assured them of their support in these initiatives. "We are ready to support Microsoft in all their initiatives. We want a conducive business environment in the State. Our only concern is that resellers should not be unnecessarily harassed in the name of raids. Confed-ITA will work closely with all vendors to create a perfect ecosystem in the market," Karthikeyan added.

Confed-ITA took its new name a couple of weeks back, during a state-level meeting held at Puducherry. More than 10 regional associations across the state participated in the meeting, which also approved the formation of Confed-ITA, an apex body working for the common benefit of channel partners across the State. Presently, 10 regional associations in Tamil Nadu have associated themselves with Confed-ITA, which is the collective voice of 650 resellers across Tamil Nadu.

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