AKITDA seeks MS support

KERALA, INDIA: All Kerala Information Technology Dealers Association (AKITDA) is taking strong steps to promote genuine software, but apparently Microsoft—the software major, known for its active drives against piracy, is not acknowledging the efforts of the association.

As part of its anti-piracy campaign, the association started an Intellectual Property Rights Cell (IPRC) to educate partners and customers about using original software only.

PG Suresh, President, AKITDA shared, “IPRC was born last year after a series of raids conducted by Microsoft on Kerala dealers selling pirated software. With an objective to promote the usage of original software, we offered a helping hand towards Microsoft. We approached them several times to discuss the issue with the concerned persons in the company and assured them of our support, but they are not taking any firm steps.”

In reply to this, Vipul Sant, Director—Original Software Initiative, Microsoft India said, “We have been consistently engaging with all the channel associations based in Kerala towards imbibing greater respect for IPRC and on highlighting the value of original software among channel partners. Till date we have had two big successful Channel Association meetings in Cochin and Trivandrum.”

He also added that Kerala is part of MS's upcoming advanced partner engagement program being initiated in few months down the line.

“There our focus would be on multi-level activities, from how to sell genuine software, license education and trainings, product updates and demos, education on perils of piracy, distribution of marketing materials, etc to train them on new technologies from Microsoft such as Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8,” he shared.

Despite all the support, Suresh highlighted that Microsoft was unwilling to give any written document to the association assuring them of their support.

“We have come to some mutual agreements, but they are totally verbal. There could be several reasons behind this. Microsoft could merely want to create propaganda through its raids and is seeking publicity in this manner.For instance, if they were interested in 100 percent anti-piracy, they could have provided different secret codes for each OS which they are not doing. The other reason could be that Microsoft, being an American company, does not want to rely on associations in India and get bound with them for support on such issue.”

This lack of support from Microsoft is diluting the efforts the association is making towards reducing piracy in the state.

“When we promote anti-piracy, dealers and partners ask us on whose behalf we are promoting it. Then we have no answer, as we don't have any agreement in written from Microsoft regarding this.”

Sant, surprised with this demand of the association, stated, “In line with our commitment towards the channel community, we have been in active engagement with AKITDA and are surprised that they want a written statement from us with respect to the IPR cell created by them, although they always have our full support. As this is an internal set-up, we can only give them moral, informational and technical support. Therefore, Microsoft reiterates its support to everyone in Kerala association who wishes to fight software piracy and we wish all the best to AKITDA in particular for the success of their IPR cell set-up by them.”

The association members on their part are planning to visit each district headquarter to hold meetings with partners in the region to discuss several important issues, including that of software piracy.

“Our visit will start with Kannur on March 7, 2009, with an objective to join hands against piracy and seek support from Microsoft for the same,” Suresh informed.

Jyothi Sankar, CEO, Gentek Computers and a member of AKITDA shared that activities in Kerala have slowed down owing to the current market situation.

“Market conditions are not good anywhere and association members are themselves struggling. We are trying to come up with certain steps to improve circumstances and are planning to work together for the betterment of partners. Despite this bad phase, we association members are firm on our objective to promote anti-piracy,” said Sankar.