RCTA members get notice from Microsoft

After serving notices to 8 members of Rajasthan Computer Traders Association (RCTA) for the involvement in the illegal loading of software, Microsoft's legal compliance cell met these partners along with RCTA office bearers on October 5, 2011 in Jaipur. The association has come forward to assist these guilty partners. During the meeting, Microsoft legal representatives presented the evidence of partners being involved in the illegal loading of pirated software.

Without sharing the name of the alleged partners, Deepak Sharda, secretary, RCTA, told The DQWeek, "All these 8 partners are members of RCTA. In the meeting, Microsoft patiently heard our members' side as well and we decided to speak to the Microsoft's management in this case and assured not to take any serious action against these guilty partners. Moreover, we had discussed the issue of piracy and agreed that software piracy is not healthy for our trade. We have also showed our commitment to support Microsoft to work closely with RCTA to help address these challenges. We have also submitted all documents and copies of emails communicated to Microsoft in the past, conforming to the same."

In addition to this, RCTA would closely work with Microsoft for various channel education and awareness activities to help generate customer awareness and also profitability to RCTA members selling genuine software. A joint meeting with RCTA's committee members is being planned in the coming week to work out on the modality of the same. Sharda further added, "To counter this menace, we have issued guidelines to all our members and recommended them to sell legal licensed operating system. In this exercise, if any partner is found guilty in selling pirated software, it will not only cost to members, but also invite legal implications of minimum 3 years of imprisonment and penalties.