MS Seven 7 to prevent piracy

NEW DELHI, INDIA: There was much hype and excitement following the launch of Windows 7. But almost immediately, news of pirated version of the latest OS were doing the rounds of the market. The software giant is now making all efforts to stop the spread of pirated software in the market.

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Microsoft recently circulated an e-mail to all the IT associations in India announcing the launch of a scheme for the channel partners called Seven 7s. The scheme is divided into three slabs that includes 777, 77 and 7. According to the scheme, channel partners have to create 777, 77 or 7 new customers for Windows 7 in seven business days, from November 17 to 25 this year. The objective of the scheme is to create a momentum around the sales of the product and also to reduce the sales of pirated Windows 7 in the market. Partners who makes the maximum number of customers would be rewarded with a couple ticket to Rome.

According to the mail, the objective of the scheme is to have pure business proposition, create the right momentum and build an informed sales force.

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The vendors has announced the scheme among members of the associations including Progressive Association of IT (PCAIT), Delhi, COMPASS, Kolkata, Confed-ITA, Trade Association of IT (TAIT) and Computers and Media Dealers Association (CMDA), Pune.

A senior member from COMPASS informed that they had received verbal information from Microsoft about the scheme.

PN Prasad of Confed-ITA and Praveen Dhoka of TAIT mentioned that they have got the information about the scheme and expressed confidence in its ability to push the sales of Windows 7.

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Besides launching the scheme to encourage the partners to sell authentic software, Microsoft is also interacting with partners in the upcountry markets and is motivating them to deal with only genuine software.

“We are recommending channel partners not to get into piracy business. Since the product has just been launched, we are creating awareness and giving support to the partners so that they are encouraged to sell original software,” said a source from Microsoft.

At the initial stage, MS is educating the partners. In order to keep a check on the piracy business, Microsoft would then get into undercover visits at the counters of retail owners. According to the source, once the company is able to get a list of the dealers who are selling pirated software, the company would filter the names, depending on the transaction amount, and will then take legal action against them.

The company is also spreading the message through the associations in the upcountry market. Channel partners in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Dehradun, Kanpur and Lucknow have confirmed receiving such message from Microsoft, intended to alert them from running illegal business.

Rajeev Khanna, Member, Jalandhar Computer Dealers' Association (JCDA) said, “Microsoft spoke to us about the support required for reducing piracy business. I have clearly informed all members of JCDA that any dealer who gets into piracy business will not get any support from the association when the vendor takes legal action on them.”

Despite the software giant's efforts towards controlling piracy, pirated version of Windows 7 are reportedly easily available on the streets of IT markets. According to dealers in Jalandhar, customers are excited to buy the new software but are not ready to shell out huge amounts to buy it. They are instead asking for pirated Windows 7 CDs available at a price of Rs 50, and they are managing to buy these copies also! In fact, one can easily find hawkers in Nehru Place openly Window 7 at a price of Rs 50 for the CD and Rs 100 for the DVD. Despite, taking precautionary moves, Microsoft still needs to wipe out the selling of pirated software that is available at its doorsteps.

Vipul Sant, Director, Original Software Initiative, Microsoft India, commented, “From an overall perspective, Microsoft is focused approach on education and enablement to help channel partners understand the business, economic and moral benefits of original software. As a part of our ongoing initiative, we continue to engage with channels partners across the country to educate them on Windows 7, our latest OS.”