Microsoft Gives More Free Software to NGOs

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Microsoft is giving away free software to protect NGOs and stop them from falling victim to actions taken in the guise of anti-piracy enforcement.

Back in September Microsoft announced it was creating a new, unilateral software license for NGOs (non-government organizations) to ensure they have free, legal copies of Microsoft products. The move came after a New York Times report claimed Microsoft was aiding the Russian government in its raids against dissident groups.

Not too long after the NYT article was published, Microsoft issued a statement claiming it would be investigating the claims made in the report, conceding that, "it was not the type of story that felt good to read." The Redmond-based company announced that it would be making a change to ensure this kind of thing could not happen again: All Russian NGOs would be covered by a new, unilateral software license that would provide them with free MS software and remove the ability to carry out raids based on piracy.

Now Microsoft is bringing this new software license for NGOs to numerous other countries. The company recently announced that it would be extending the program to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

NYT reports that the expansion will allow Microsoft to provide more than 500,000 non-profits with free software, and Microsoft's Deputy General Counsel and Corporate VP Nancy Anderson says the NGO software license will last until January 1, 2012, giving NGOs ample time to move to the company's standard NGO software donation program.

Read more about the program here.

Source: NYT, Tom's Hardware

Jane McEntegart
Jane McEntegart
Contributor

Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.

24 Comments Comment from the forums
  • reprotected
    Or was it the fact that OpenOffice.org is gaining more fame? Seems quite desperate.
    Reply
  • tu_illegalamigo
    They`re making money somewhere. Corporations don`t do anything that would cause them to not make money, I think.
    Reply
  • mister g
    Anybody got spare NGO licenses I can "borrow"?
    Reply
  • sykozis
    reprotectedOr was it the fact that OpenOffice.org is gaining more fame? Seems quite desperate.
    Try to keep up with the world... Russia uses any excuse they can conceive to raid any place occupied by activist groups of any type.
    Reply
  • liveonc
    I can picture Braveheart crying "Freedom" while having both kidneys removed. Seriously, it's too sad to be funny, but it does give MS a happy face when they don't get to share the blame of what goons do.
    Reply
  • LuckyDucky7
    How about free Office for nonprofit organizations in North America?
    Reply
  • Parsian
    tu_illegalamigoThey`re making money somewhere. Corporations don`t do anything that would cause them to not make money, I think.
    They are expanding their market by giving away their platform. Just like how they dont mind piracy of Windows in 3rd world countries since it will benefit them in long term.
    Reply
  • theoutbound
    It's fantastic Microsoft is doing this, regardless of any perceived motivations that would be less than altruistic. More companies should be putting their support behind non-profits.
    Reply
  • rottingsheep
    Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
    are these countries as oppressive as russia?
    Reply
  • rottingsheep
    where are the soviet joke comments?
    Reply