IT and society: Free Microsoft software for NGOs in Russia

Microsoft Corp. is changing its policy towards non-governmental organizations and points out that it intends to provide NGOs with free legal software. Infodonor program, which aims to provide certain categories of users with donated software (apart from NGOs, Infodonor program is intended for Mass Media as well), was launched in Russia last year. However many companies are unaware of this company’s initiative. For this reason Microsoft made a decision to offer companies a special license that will automatically make legal the Corp’s software which had been already installed.

In the past year, Microsoft donated software with a fair market value of over $390 million to over 42,000 NGOs around the world. 

The new program will be available up to 2012. Microsoft executives believe that this time is enough to ensure all NGOs have free, legal copies of the company’s products.

The company made such a decision after New York Times reports on anti-piracy enforcement actions in Russia that have been used for more nefarious purposes than protecting intellectual property rights.