Gorbachev to Gates: Show software 'pirate' mercy

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/02/05/gorbachev.gates.reut/index.html

Gorbachev to Gates: Show software 'pirate' mercy
POSTED: 1:34 p.m. EST, February 5, 2007

MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) -- Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on Monday asked Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to intercede on behalf of a Russian teacher accused of using pirated software in his classroom.

In an open letter, Nobel Peace Prize winner Gorbachev said the teacher, Alexander Ponosov, from a remote village in the Urals, should be shown mercy because he did not know he was committing a crime.

"A teacher, who has dedicated his life to the education of children and who receives a modest salary that does not bear comparison with the salaries of even regular staff in your company, is threatened with detention in Siberian prison camps," read the letter, posted on the Internet site of Gorbachev's charitable foundation www.gorby.ru.

"We have great respect for the work of Microsoft's programmers ... and are in no way casting doubt on the principle of punishment for intellectual property violations. (more at link)

[darkism]

1. Free Ponosov!

Don't they have REAL crimes to prosecute over there?

[zonkers]

2. "MS Paperclip guy says......

"Better take a sweater!!!!"

[On the Road]

3. Wow, I Had No Idea the Gulag Was Part of This Campaign

I certainly hope Gates changes his mind. Prosecuting resellers of software is one thing. Throwing a headmaster in jail is another thing entirely.

[LanternWaste]

4. Two things...

Two things:

First, I'd be surprised if any teacher in the Russian Republic makes enough in an entire year to buy his/her classroom up-to-date classroom/educational software. It's nice to know that the U.S. isn't the only industrialized nation that disparages teachers from, well... teaching.

Secondly, I'm happy to see Mr. G is still around and attempting to do good works. I followed his Glasnost policies with a keene ear when I was doing my ten-year college plan (a "tenner", get it? Nevermind). He fell off my radar screen shortly thereafter, but I've always thought that Gorbachev, Pope John Paul and Lech Walesa were at the top of the list of those responsible for the break up of the terribly isolationist and repressive Soviet regime.

Good for Gorbachev, good for that teacher and (hopefully, if he does the right thing) good for Gates.

[Lost-in-FL]

5. The hypocrisy of Microsoft

They want people prosecuted for using pirated software but they are making millions copying other OS companies (Like Apple for example). Tell me that the new VISTA doesn't resemble a Mac OS? See here...

http://lifehacker.com/software/top/windows-vista-beta-a-lot-like-mac-os-x-179909.php

They also copied FIREFOX, just look at the new Internet Explorer... http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=28807

[Amused Musings]

6. Then when he gives to charity to rectify

situations like these, he writes it off his taxes

[SayWhatYo]

7. There is a difference...

First, let me make it clear that I hope Gates does the right thing and does whatever he can do to let this guy go free.
Second, there is a difference between stealing actual code or programs and simply emulating a certain feel. Not to mention the fact that the first vista demonstrations came out before the mac os you speak of was released.

Although, that's really besides the point. As for the IE7 and Firefox thing. Mickeysoft added features that it saw that public liked. This is not stealing anything. Should they continue to output shit that people think is ugly or doesn't work like they want? Should they simply allow their products to decline? Also, do you hold those same standards to other companies? How about how many desktop environments try to emulate the windows desktop? How about how Mac OS is now able to run on x86 architecture? Or is that different?

[RogueBandit]

8. M$ patents the double-click

Do you really think M$ invented the double-click? No, they just got a patent for it. Odds are that they stole the idea from somewhere and just had the gumption and attorneys to get it patented. What a stupid patent. And that's only one of many ridiculous things they've patented.

They do steal and when they get caught they fight and if they lose they pay. It's a part of their culture.

What I just wrote might be all BS but profit is their bottom line...

[Phx_Dem]

10. You mean like how Apple stole the iphone name?

[LanternWaste]

13. Or like when they 'took' the GUI and mouse from Xerox.

Or when Apple 'took' the GUI and mouse from Xerox.

None of these guys are truly original or unique... it's just who gets the patent quicker.

[redqueen]

11. It's disgusting, but it's not new.

Little guys are "pirates". Gates is a "privateer".

:puke:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. Here's a good thing I only noticed now.

CNN put the word 'pirate' between quotes. That's a breath of fresh air.

See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Piracy

[Casablanca]

12. Someone didn't tell Gorby that Microsoft doesn't "do" empathy.

Not in the classical sense, anyway.

Microsoft and integrity aren't good mixers either.