Updated 13 Feb, 2012, 1:38 pm IST

Chilean Tribe Takes Microsoft to Court

26 Nov, 2006, 12:00 pm IST | Priyanka Pradhan |

The Mapuche Indians of Chile are offended by Microsoft's version of Windows in their language, Mapuzugun. The tribe is considering a lawsuit against the IT giant, for violating cultural and collective heritage, because the software in their native language was developed without the permission from the Government or Vole. The Mapuche Indians have also written to Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, accusing the company of 'intellectual piracy'. Currently, the tribe is in court, in a bid to stop the distribution of the software.

While Microsoft said it wanted to help Mapuches embrace the digital age, the 400,000 indigenous Chileans, who speak Mapuzugun, feel that Microsoft and the Chilean Education Ministry have overlooked them by translating the software, without the elders' consent, participation or consultation. Microsoft has declined to comment on the case, until the case is legally resolved.

Microsoft has translated Windows into dozens of indigenous American languages, including Mohawk, Quechua and Inuktitut, but has never faced opposition from any tribe before.

Read more here.

Tags: Mapuche Indians , Tribals , Chile , Microsoft , Windows , Mohawk , Quechua , Inuktitut

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