Microsoft Backs Down: Will No Longer Help Russian Gov't Use Copyright To Suppress Dissent
from the only-three-years-later dept
Despite evidence this has been going on for years, it apparently took a NY Times article calling Microsoft out for the company to officially change its policies on assisting the Russian government in cases involving supposedly unauthorized copies of Microsoft software:
Microsoft announced on Monday that it would essentially prohibit its Russian division from taking part in software piracy cases against government opponents, responding to criticism that it was assisting the authorities in a crackdown on dissent.
Microsoft’s general counsel, Brad Smith, claimed that they “unequivocally abhor any attempt to leverage intellectual property rights to stifle political advocacy or pursue improper personal gain.” Would have been nice if that had been made clear before it was revealed in the NY Times how eager Microsoft appeared to be to help the Russian government out.
Filed Under: copyright, dissent, russia
Companies: microsoft
Comments on “Microsoft Backs Down: Will No Longer Help Russian Gov't Use Copyright To Suppress Dissent”
IP always leads to censorship
This is a sad, but unsurprising, example of how an unjust law–copyright–leads to censorship and political oppression; other exammples listed in my post The Patnet, Trademark, and Trade Secret Horror Files, including Susan Boyle’s being prevented from singing a song because of copyright, and the literal destruction or banning of films (“Nosferatu”) or books (“60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye”).
Google’s motto: Don’t be evil.
Microsoft’s motto: Be evil until caught; then pretend to be good.