Pirated Principal

[Tanmay®]

A verdict had been expected today in the prosecution that started on Jan. 9. The piracy case drew national headlines following a personal plea from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates for mercy in the case. Ponosov is principal of the secondary school in the village of Sepych.

Russia's CNews reported that Judge Elvira Mosheva dismissed the case because "Microsoft's financial damage is too insignificant for a criminal investigation."

During a Monday hearing, the judge questioned whether the prosecution had provided convincing evidence against Ponosov, according to CNews. Prosecutors had accused Ponosov of installing pirated Microsoft software on PCs he purchased for his school. Ponosov insisted that the software was on the computers already.

Last week, Microsoft executive Olga Dergunova defended the reseller that provided the computers.

A technical expert had testified that Ponosov purchased the computers in August 2005, but the pirated software--versions of Windows and Office--wasn't installed until April 2006.

Ponosov maintained his innocence throughout the court proceeding. Possibly bowing to public pressure, Microsoft offered a "peace agreement," which Ponosov, asserting his innocence, refused to accept, according to CNews.

Yesterday, the prosecution changed the core of its case against Ponosov. Rather than installing counterfeit software, prosecutors claimed that he illegally used the software for a week after an investigation uncovered piracy. Prosecutors asked Mosheva to find the school principal 3,000 rubbles, or about $115 U.S. Earlier, the value of the software had been assessed at 266,000 rubbles, or about $10,000 U.S.

Prosecutors have 10 days to file an appeal, and CNews reported that the accused may file his own appeal. The judge's ruling didn't specifically absolve Ponosov of guilt, but rather simply of not inflicting enough harm on Microsoft for the case to proceed.

"Microsoft's financial damage is too insignificant for a criminal investigation."

Haha yeah right

[Anuj01]

wtf?
microsoft fighting for $115