Omani court delivers final verdict on Microsoft initiated arrest of IT reseller
Proprietor sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined OMR 1,000 for selling PCs with pirated Microsoft software
Microsoft has lauded an Omani court’s decision to impose an OMR 1,000 fine against an IT reseller caught selling PCs loaded with unlicensed Microsoft Office 2007 and Microsoft Windows XP software. Microsoft, a member of the Business Software Alliance (BSA), the international association established by the software industry to promote a safe and legal digital world, had earlier asked for assistance from Omani authorities in taking necessary punitive actions against the offending party.
Legal proceedings to appeal the initial verdict were initiated on March 02, 2008, after the case was brought before an Omani court on January 27, 2008. The judge handed down the final verdict on April 13, 2008, ordering the appellant to pay the fine, compensate for the attorney fees and to serve six months in prison. The court’s decision highlighted Microsoft’s successful partnership with the BSA and various other Gulf governments in proactively fighting regional software piracy.
