Microsoft India has launched its new consumer-led education and enforcement initiative to reduce piracy in the country. Aptly called the “Consumer Action Day”, the move aims to protect consumers from the risks and perils of pirated/counterfeit softwares and to educate, enable and empower consumers to fight and reject piracy by reporting instances of software piracy and counterfeiting by the resellers.
Outlining the initiatives in India, Mr Vipul Sant, Director, Original Software Initiative, remarked, “Software piracy is a problem that plagues the entire economy. It is time for collective action and we are encouraged by the consumers who have come forward to highlight their grievances before us. It shall be our endeavour to continue to provide increased access to original software and to spread wider awareness on the value that original software provides so that consumers can safeguard themselves from falling prey to pirated software. Going forward, Microsoft is very clear about taking toughest action against those resellers who have been reported by the consumers.”
Microsoft has, from time to time, taken various steps to help consumers who have provided full support, information and evidence to Microsoft’s anti-piracy team. It reiterated its commitment to protect consumers, resellers and the partner ecosystem from the threat and losses associated with piracy and to prevent counterfeiters from taking advantage of innocent victims and gaining an unfair advantage over honest partners.
Part of a global initiative, Consumer Action Day is being observed by more than 70 countries with key educational initiatives and enforcement actions to protect consumers from unlicensed/counterfeit software. This reflects the consumers’ growing concern for the harm caused by unlicensed/counterfeit software and Microsoft’s efforts to give consumers a voice in the fight against software piracy and counterfeiting.
