Ever since I installed a update KB905474,my windows have been turned into a nagger nothing more. The latest update by Microsoft is a part of Windows Genuine Advantage program that was started some time ago. It is another attempt by the software giant to counter software piracy but the question remains is it working because the update is still optional not mandatory. Across the planet almost 90% of the pc’s run on Microsoft Windows and they are loosing billions of dollars as a result of piracy.
It was in news that by September of 2006, it will be mandatory for all windows user to varify runing copy of windows. Other technologies such as Internet Explorer, DirectX and Windows Media Player have already been baged under the GWA program and downloads are only availble to users runing legal copies of windows. As always many methods to by pass this are availbe across the internet and all one needs is to google a bit.
Pakistan is among the top ten countires where pirated softwares are being used and at current will be among the toppers quite soon. Pakistan is generating around $27million per year and most of the revenue genreated is sent abroad only 10% or less stays in Pakistan. A report by BBC looks into piracy and its causes in Pakistan. The goverment of Pakistan seems to be power less to enforce laws regarding piracy, as a result Pakistan had become a hub for pirated softwares. Every few months they do a crackdown on pirates. For few days or weeks all the software recks remain empty but after that its life as usual.
Micrsoft seems to be less intrested in Pakistan and their watch dogs are more intrested in cracking down on small businesses and enterprises using pirated windows and putting heavy fees on them. Some how this seems not to be working at the level of a home user and if one decides to buy a legal copy of windows, its quite impossible to get one in this country. From personal experience I can tell after looking hard I was unable to find a single software vendor that was selling a legal copy. Only way that seemed possible was to get it either with Laptops or Branded computers non other then that. As it is clear by Microsofts behaviour towards Pakistan that it does not consider a viable market and hence is less focused.
The cost of the orignal software also plays a key role in stopping computer users here from buying legal copies. For instance legal copy of Windows XP Professional costs around $190, when converted to Pakistani Rs:12,000. A pirated cd is available at Rs.25 [50 cents US]. Then why would a user even consider of going legal, to him a 25 Rs cd is doing the same job as a Rs.12,000 one. The Pakistani users have developed a habbit of buying cheap softwares and wont be ready to pay any thing then the current cost for pirated ones. The goverment of Pakistan not seems intrested in bargaing with Microsoft on pricing of their softwares and denouncing piracy. There are already sufficent laws to stop sotware piracy but those laws are not being implemented by the goverment.
As long as the Pakistani users will not break habbit of buying cheap software which seems to be quite hard to break and Software marketing their softwares with a price that suits a average Pakistani users pocket the pircay can not be tackled effectively. Free software will be the future as the goverment will increase its crackdown on pirated softwares and goverment have started towards the implimentation of such open source softwares. Linux Pakistan is one such group working towards this goal.
Finally I got passed nagging illegal copy message and I am more careful now before installing new updates, I want to use a legal copy of windows but the cost is keeping me from doing so.
Further links
September 29, 2006 at 6:37 am
a roots electronic music, created by skillful, Shaastra 1. marijuana 2. money 3. a bullet (1)