Microsoft gets tough about software piracy in Kenya with BuyGenuine.co.ke
In yesterday’s Daily Nation. Microsoft had a full page ad for its anti piracy campaign in Kenya with the Kenya Copyright Board (KCB). The web site for the the campaign is BuyGenuine.co.ke and it has some of the details about this initiative.
What is important for all businesses to note is that the amnesty period for pirated Microsoft software is just around the corner as it ends on the 15th December 2011. Thereafter, with the backing of the KCB, Microsoft will be going after businesses who are NOT using genuine Microsoft software and the penalties are significant.
I heard details on one of the radio channels a couple of weeks ago and fines as high as Kes. 800,000.00 will be charged for using pirated Microsoft software in Kenya – this is clearly serious and businesses will need to buckle up and get genuine copies of Microsoft software going forward. If one is unable to settle the fines, they are liable for time in prison so clearly many are going to take the required steps to avoid being penalized.
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It is yet to be seen how they will implement this. Will they raid business premises? Will they stop people at random and check their laptops? Will they go to symposiums, conferences etc and check participants’ machines? And will they need a warrant to search your personal property?
@MMK good points. Lets see what happens in the New Year
this will be a great boost to Linux & open source usage in Kenya 😉
Why buy expensive M$ software when there are better and free alternatives…
Everybody needs to move to Linux. I use Ubuntu, so good and yet so cheap. I wonder why anybody still buys Microsoft so expensively and, like Michael said, there are free and even better alternatives. May be people are afraid of Ubuntu and co. Ubuntu is so good, and all software you will find in Windows, there is always its brother in Ubuntu, and all free! You can get it at http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download. Try it today!
I agree with those of you with the view that we should turn to open source. Even the government should adopt the open source softwares and this would make things and life easier for. The prices of the microsoft softwares are exorbitant. And again, we should be designing our own programs by now!
Now any one who knows the best cyber timer to use with ubuntu?
Well they definitely will need warrants. On the contrary people should think of going into Linux based distros makes life very easy without the microsoft bug bugging you.
Microsoft is one hilarious company. How do they expect the common guy to buy a cpu at 8000 ksh and charge their software at over 20,000 microsoft office exclusive!!! Im waiting to see how they are going to handle this. If they want to really end piracy, maybe they should first consider closing down all file sharing sites (if that is remotely possible)then check all computers for genuine windows(not possible in a million years)…so back to my point. Microsoft will fine a few people maybe also send a few to jail, but thats just a tip of the iceberg..I can bet 90% of all computers in kenya use pirated windows. Good luck microsoft!!!!!
I think what Microsoft and copyright board of Kenya are doing is just rotating just like a grazing cow. Reason why don’t they first remove all the “downloadable” material from net otherwise i can call the work they are doing a ZERO WORK.
i think this guys are now going to join in hands with robbers now you cant be able to know how is how any way,me am ready let them come.am ready with my panga.
I think all is said. Microsoft lower down your software prices we are in a third world country
Microsoft South Africa and Kenya were always a bunch of jokers – they never understood the business in Kenya and discredited a dedicated key distributor in 90’s and brought in some companies owned only wanted to cash-in on the opportunity in late 90’s. They have since never managed to get a dedicated and serious distributor and hence the resellers have suffered and piracy has increased in relative terms
Microsoft’s venture in East Africa has been a total failure
Imposing high fines on persons found to be using counterfeit software will reduce the rate at which piracy takes place especially in public. At shopit we guarantee you to find genuine software that will be delivered to you in a timely manner. Feel free to check out our website http://shopit.co.ke for more on the products and services that we offer.