CompuWorld

I have been one of those believers who think that piracy supports the particular company whose product is being pirated and here I have a Microsoft official supporting me.

At the Morgan Stanley Technology conference last week in San Francisco, Microsoft business group president Jeff Raikes commented on the benefits of software counterfeiting. "If they're going to pirate somebody, we want it to be us rather than somebody else," he said. "We understand that in the long run the fundamental asset is the installed base of people who are using our products. What you hope to do over time is convert them to licensing the software."

Think of a user who uses a Microsoft software continuously for many years. Now in long run when Microsoft succeeds in creating a "non crackable software" (huh!) then you will be forced to pay for that software because of your addiction to Microsoft's products.

Other reason which might be the point why Jeff made such a comment was that any human could go on to pay Microsoft for the product which he used for years as pirated version as he may have the idea that the company is worth that money. After all the MS products are very user friendly and are easily able to create there user base.

One biggest reason which I see a profitable point of MS wanting people to use pirated OS (windows ofcourse) is that they will succeed in keeping the people away from LINUX! Later they will care about converting them to legitimate users.

This could be a good thought as this would somehow bring few pirates to bay.

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