Philippine college slaps Microsoft with $2.4 million copyright suit
18 12 2007
Yep, you read the title right. Microsoft is being sued for copyright infringement - a very ironic twist, considering that they make so much noise about protecting intellectual propery rights. The plaintiff here is Southeastern College from Pasay Ciy, Philippines. According to them, Microsoft Philippines allegedly distributed 700 CDs in 2005 and 2006, which contained a 379-page manual called “SEC Microsoft Office XP Manual”. The manual was copyrighted by SEC director Conrad Mañalac, and 10,000 copies of this manual was licensed and retitled in 2004 for a program to train high school teachers. Southeastern College is suing Microsoft and Microsoft Philippines for Php 100 million ($2.4 million)
Of course Microsoft Philippines denied that they improperly distributed additional copies of the curriculum. They haven’t made a clear position on the issue yet but an official statement sent to Inquirer.net suggests that they’re more concerned about protecting the company than actually dealing with the lawsuit. According to Microsoft Philippines, this is a local matter that does not involve the main Microsoft Corporation. Uhuh sure. Seeing as they’ve made no real stand on the matter, I wonder how Microsoft intends to wiggle their way out of this one.
[via engadget]
Ugh replied on Dec 18th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Geez, learn how to do some original writing, will you? This is almost a word for word copy of the source post.
TonGuE-tWisTeD replied on Dec 18th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Southeastern College (SEC) is an institution not known for its technical instruction. Or better yet, the school, a few blocks away from my house, is simply unknown. What surprises me is that this obscure college has actually written technical literature so outstanding even the giant Microsoft has to plagiarize it.
This David-versus-Goliath clash hopefully goes the same way of its Biblical allusion. The damages sought is may be negligible to the Gates’ empire, but the bigger victim will be Microsoft’s corporate credibility, further eroding its image to one of a bully who does not practice what it preaches.
Lulu replied on Dec 20th, 2007 at 2:00 am
SEC is actually certified as the only Microsoft Authorized Academic Training Provider (AATP) in the Philippines. I checked the school’s website.