Microsoft's selective meeting riles associations

In an interesting development, David Finn, Associate General
Counsel-Worldwide Anti-piracy and Anti-counterfeiting, Microsoft met up with
representatives of Mumbai-based Trade Association of Information Technology (TAIT),
and Confed-ITTA, the umbrella body of associations of Tamil Nadu in Mumbai.

But as the news about the same leaked out associations across India, were
perturbed by the selective meetings that Microsoft chose to do. In fact most of
the associations had no clue why such a meeting was taking place and the reason
why they were overlooked.

With the meeting happening in Mumbai, associations in West India questioned
why they were overlooked when association from South India was invited.
Commenting about the same Shital Nahar, President, Computer and Media Dealers
Association (CMDA), Pune said, "Frankly we were not aware of the meeting that
happened between the two associations and Microsoft and hence it won't be right
on the part of us to comment on that issue."

Claiming that the decision to not invite them to the meeting with Finn came
as the surprise for the association, Prashant Ugemuge, President, Vidharba
Computer Media Dealers Welfare Association (VCMDWA) said that it was actively
involved in curbing piracy in the region. "It is really surprising for us that
we were not called for the meeting. We have been working with Microsoft to
curbing piracy and have been supporting them more than supporting our partners,"
Ugemuge claimed.

In fact the only association of software resellers in India, ISODA, which is
headquartered in Mumbai was also unaware about the meeting.

Delhi-based Progressive Channel Association of Information Technology (PCAIT)
was also not very happy with being ignored. Saket Kapur, General Secretary,
PCAIT, said that Microsoft must chase the resellers who are involved in piracy
rather than the associations. "PCAIT has not got any intimation about the
briefing from Microsoft on anti-piracy meeting with Finn. We have no clue of
which all associations were invited for this briefing. Instead of calling
specific association to increase anti-piracy awareness, Microsoft should chase
the resellers who openly sell pirated software on streets of IT market," he
said.

When contacted about why Finn chose to meet only two associations while
overlooking the rest Tushar Makkar, Head-Business Value Communications,
Microsoft said, "David has taken various business meetings during his visit to
India and as part of his agenda, he has also spent time with a few channel
associations." However, that is a statement that will find few takers in the
channel community.