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Phillipine school sues Microsoft over copyright |
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Written by Felix Da Silva (fdasilva@bitnip.com)
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
 A Manila-based school filed a lawsuit that allges the software giant, Microsoft, illegally copied and distributed copyrighted material.
According to ZDNet Asia, the school Southeastern College (SEC) allges that Microsoft unauthorized and illegal “digital copying” and distribution of a
locally developed manual on the use of Microsoft Office.
The copyright work in question is the manual which is owned and developed by SEC for Office XP. The school said the 379-page manual called, "The SEC Microsoft Office XP Manual", was registered and copyrighted in 1999 by SEC director Conrado Mañalac for the exclusive use of the school's teachers and students.
SEC claimed that in 2004, Microsoft Philippines purchased licenses to print some
10,000 copies of the SEC manual, which the software giant renamed to "Innovate:
A Mentor's Guide to ICT Foundation Competencies" and was used for its "Partners
in Learning" program for high-school teachers, the news report noted.
However, in October 2006, Microsoft distributed the manual (in PDF format) through CDs
as part of its corporate giveaways during two separate events.
Atty. Estelito Mendoza, legal counsel for SEC said,
SEC has never given Microsoft or any other person authority to reproduce and/or
distribute (Innovate) in CDs. SEC only consented to the printing of 10,000 book copies. The making of the CDs, as well as its copying and distribution, grossly violates Southeastern College’s economic rights to its intellectual property. The school is reportedly seeking 100 million pesos (US$2.44 million) in
"damages".
Microsoft is still consulting lawyers regarding its public statement about the lawsuit and
that they would issue a reply this week.
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