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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gorbachev wades into piracy row | Gorbachev wades into piracy row |
| (1 day later) | |
| Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has urged Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to intercede in a computer piracy case against a Russian headteacher. | Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has urged Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to intercede in a computer piracy case against a Russian headteacher. |
| The plea came in an open letter published on Mr Gorbachev's website. | The plea came in an open letter published on Mr Gorbachev's website. |
| Russian prosecutors say Alexander Ponosov ran pirated software at school, violating intellectual property rights. | |
| In reply to Mr Gorbachev Microsoft said it did not initiate the prosecution and that the scale of the case did not warrant criminal proceedings. | |
| Mr Gorbachev's letter, on the website run by his charitable foundation, said "many people in Russia regard this scandalous case as trumped-up, launched on the initiative of Microsoft corporation to set a precedent". | Mr Gorbachev's letter, on the website run by his charitable foundation, said "many people in Russia regard this scandalous case as trumped-up, launched on the initiative of Microsoft corporation to set a precedent". |
| "We have great respect for the work of Microsoft's programmers... and are in no way casting doubt on the principle of punishment for intellectual property violations. | "We have great respect for the work of Microsoft's programmers... and are in no way casting doubt on the principle of punishment for intellectual property violations. |
| "However, in this case we ask you to show mercy and withdraw your complaint against Alexander Ponosov," the letter read. | |
| 'Amicable settlement' | |
| But Olga Dergunova, chairman of Microsoft Russia, said: "This case was initiated by Russian authorities under Russian law. | |
| "We did have the option in this case to take up civil action, but decided last year not to do so." | |
| She added: "We are eager to see this case resolved through an amicable settlement so that everyone can move forward." | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has also criticised the prosecution of Mr Ponosov, in Perm, east of Moscow. | |
| The Perm region lies in the Ural Mountains, between Moscow and Siberia. | The Perm region lies in the Ural Mountains, between Moscow and Siberia. |
| The teacher is accused of knowingly using pirated Windows software in the school and causing the company losses put at 266,000 roubles ($10,000; £5,000). | The teacher is accused of knowingly using pirated Windows software in the school and causing the company losses put at 266,000 roubles ($10,000; £5,000). |
| Mr Ponosov told the BBC that Russian prosecutors had brought the case against him and he was unaware of any Microsoft claim against him. | Mr Ponosov told the BBC that Russian prosecutors had brought the case against him and he was unaware of any Microsoft claim against him. |
| He says he is innocent, that the software had been pre-installed and he did not know it was unlicensed when he obtained the computers. | He says he is innocent, that the software had been pre-installed and he did not know it was unlicensed when he obtained the computers. |
| At a news conference on 1 February, President Putin said investigators should "go after the distributors, not the users". | At a news conference on 1 February, President Putin said investigators should "go after the distributors, not the users". |
| "It's ridiculous to just arrest a chap for using computers," he said. | "It's ridiculous to just arrest a chap for using computers," he said. |