Microsoft’s selective meeting riles associations

MUMBAI, INDIA: It was termed as a normal business meeting by a senior Microsoft executive with two associations, but it has managed to rile the other associations across India. In an interesting development last week, David Finn, Associate General Counsel—Worldwide Anti-piracy and Anti-counterfeiting, Microsoft met up with representatives of Mumbai-based Trade Association of Information Technology (TAIT), and Confed-ITTA, the umbrella body of associations of Tamil Nadu in Mumbai.

But as the news about the same leaked out associations across India, were perturbed by the selective meetings that Microsoft chose to do. In fact most of the associations had no clue why such a meeting was taking place and the reason why they were overlooked.

With the meeting happening in Mumbai, associations in West India questioned why they were overlooked when association from South India was invited. Commenting about the same Shital Nahar, President, Computer and Media Dealers Association (CMDA), Pune said, “Frankly we were not aware of the meeting that happened between the two associations and Microsoft and hence it won’t be right on the part of us to comment on that issue.”

Claiming that the decision to not invite them to the meeting with Finn came as the surprise for the association, Prashant Ugemuge, President, Vidharba Computer Media Dealers Welfare Association (VCMDWA) said that it was actively involved in curbing piracy in the region. “It is really surprising for us that we were not called for the meeting. We have been working with Microsoft to curbing piracy and have been supporting them more than supporting our partners,” Ugemuge claimed.

In fact the only association of software resellers in India, ISODA, which is headquartered in Mumbai was also unaware about the meeting. When contacted Harinder Salwan, Secretary, ISODA said, “We are not aware about any such meeting. In fact we were supposed to have a separate meeting with MS on clarity about the issues plaguing software resellers, but that did not take place. And we were completely unaware of this meeting.”

Delhi-based Progressive Channel Association of Information Technology (PCAIT) was also not very happy with being ignored. Saket Kapur, General Secretary, PCAIT, said that Microsoft must chase the resellers who are involved in piracy rather than the associations. “PCAIT has not got any intimation about the briefing from Microsoft on anti-piracy meeting with Finn. We have no clue of which all associations were invited for this briefing. Instead of calling specific association to increase anti-piracy awareness, Microsoft should chase the resellers who openly sell pirated software on streets of IT market,” he said.

Not so bothered by the meetings that took place between Microsoft and channel associations, Pawan Jajodia, President, Computer Association Of Eastern India (COMPASS), Kolkata said that the association already had a meeting with Microsoft a few months back and had discussed all the issues. “Microsoft got into contact with us sometime back and their major concern was piracy in the region,” Jajodia elaborated. However, the association retaliated by saying that this was the case because the vendor had exponentially increased their rates and therefore the customers were resorting to piracy. “However, nothing came of the interaction with Microsoft as such and we are awaiting another discussion, which should be held sometime in the near future,” he added.

When contacted about why Finn chose to meet only two associations while overlooking the rest Tushar Makkar, Head—Business Value Communications, Microsoft said, “David has taken various business meetings during his visit to India and as part of his agenda, he has also spent time with a few channel associations.” However, that is a statement that will find few takers in the channel community.