Supreme Court: Spouse Cannot Withdraw Consent for Mutual Divorce After Settlement Agreement  ||  Supreme Court Suspends PC Act Sentence of Former Minister Anosh Ekka, Flags Overlapping CBI Cases  ||  Supreme Court: Magistrate’s Probe Order Can’t be Quashed on Accused’s Defence  ||  Delhi High Court: No Adverse Inference if Handwriting Sample Refused Without Section 73 Disclosure  ||  J&K&L HC: Bank Officials Not Entitled to Section 197 CrPC Protection Despite Public Servant Status  ||  Kar HC Orders CBI Probe into 53-Acre Land Acquisition, Citing Alleged Monumental Fraud & Conspiracy  ||  Supreme Court Grants Probation to Convicts; Rules Fine-Only Cases Also Eligible  ||  SC Disposes Plea on Allied Health Course Moratorium After NCAHP Issues 2026–27 Guideline  ||  Supreme Court Grants Promotion Relief to Employee Denied Relaxation, Calling it Discrimination  ||  Patna HC: Tender Lapses if Not Extended on Time & Delay Cannot be Cured by Repeated Representations    

Microsoft Corporation and Ors. v. Susheel Kumar and Ors. - (23 Sep 2015)

Cheaper to pirate than purchase?

MANU/DE/3014/2015

Intellectual Property Rights

In a case against large pirating of Microsoft software (yes, makers of the little known ‘Windows’, ‘Office’ and ‘Bing’), the Delhi High Court laid heady damages of Rs. 5 lakhs against a most prolific Blackbeard of unpaid-for software. Given that Karle Group, with a dedicated IT Department no less, was running nearly 300 computers with Microsoft software on which over 200 unlicensed pieces of Microsoft software were found installed, the ‘punitive’ damages are more flea-ting than they first seem. Especially since 55 computers were erased of illicit software(s) during the conduct of search. Microsoft had estimated the damage suffered to over Rs. 17 lakhs.

Relevant : Without the dreaded ‘takedown’ notices of the United States, and disconnection of habitual illegal software and media sharers in the European Union, India, an enormous potential market for Western software firms, is nascent in its anti-piracy measures. Figures by BSA, a global consortium of software developers, estimated that in 2013 India was home to over $2.9 billion worth of unlicensed software. Cue growth in broadband uptake and greater internet penetration with over 15 million wired broadband subscribers and over 78 million wireless internet subscribers (showing a whopping 16 per cent monthly growth, according to TRAI Telecom Data on 31st January 2015), Western software firms emboldened by government overtures, and the need to distance from China’s example (Copy? Right!), it is only a matter of time before that tug of war begins.

Tags : SOFTWARE   PIRATE   UNLICENSED   MICROSOFT   PUNITIVE  

Share :        

Disclaimer | Copyright 2026 - All Rights Reserved