[Openstds] Kenyen Copyright board takes piracy war to cyber cafes

[Robin Gross]

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http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4522&Itemid=5847

**Kenyen Copyright board takes piracy war to cyber cafes

* Written by Okuttah Mark, Business Daily Africa
*November 27, 2007

*Cyber café operators within Nairobi are torn between legalising their 
Microsoft software operating system, shifting to Open Source Code or 
closing shop all together following the crack down on illegal software.

Most cyber cafes in Kenya use Microsoft software. but with no valid 
licences. Jet Cyber and Dagit Cyber Café in Nairobi are the latest 
companies to be raided on the suspicion of copyright infringement.

The raids on the cyber cafes come after the expiry of the October 30th 
deadline set by the Kenya Copyright Board.

During the raid, 50 computers containing unlicensed versions of 
Microsoft Windows Office 2003 edition were confiscated. Also impounded 
were Windows 200 and Microsoft 2003 counterfeit installer CD. The 
computers were valued at Sh1.5 million while the cost of Windows Os and 
Office are estimated at Sh1.4 million.

Edward Segei, a State counsel seconded to the Copyright body, said the 
owners of the raided Internet Cafes will face charges of copyright 
infringement.

These latest moves have thrown a number of cyber café operators into a 
tight spot. While some of the operators have got genuine Office 
operating system and Microsoft Windows, others shifted their operation 
to the Open source Code system.

Irene Wambui, a unit manager at Wang’ Point Telecenter attributed use of 
pirated software to ignorance. “We bought the entire business plus the 
computers from the previous owner without knowing that the software was 
not genuine” said Wambui. Wang’ Point Telecenter recently decided to buy 
genuine software.

“The shift however came at a cost. While the value of our previous 
machines were Sh10, 000 we had to spend Sh60, 000 for each of our 17 
machines,” said Wambui.

Another cyber owner operating along Kimathi street who wished to remain 
anonymous until he installed the Open source software, contemplated 
between closing the business altogether. “At first when Microsoft 
officers visited us, they convinced us on the importance of operating on 
genuine software which we didn’t object to, but the manner they are 
doing it cannot let us sustain our businesses,” he said.

His dilemma started when Microsoft sent him a letter stating that they 
would want him to legalise his operating system. However , he says that 
his business is operating on Windows 2000, but then Microsoft asked them 
to upgrade to Windows XP. “After testing the Windows XP, we found that 
it was not suitable for us but they insisted that we must go that way,” 
he claimed.

He welcomed legalising software on Windows 2000, to which Microsoft says 
they did not want to license what they don’t support.

So, he embraced Open Source. “At first I was hesitant but with what am 
experiencing, I wish I had gone Open Source long time ago. It did not 
cost me anything. I closed for two days and installed all the machines 
with the Open Source software” he says.

He adds that if he was to go the Microsoft way he could be forced to 
increase his charges from 50 cents to Sh5 per minute of surfing “to 
recover his costs.” A Kenyan Open Source Code group Skunkworks led by 
Ken Kasani are now championing more cyber café to go to Open Source.

According to Mr Kasani, the software will manage all aspects of cyber 
café billing such as Internet time, printing, items, accounts, 
discounts, the programme will be across platform , it will be possible 
to run it on both Linux and Windows computers connected on the same 
cyber works.

The package is being developed using FOSS development tools and platform 
and, therefore, will be released worldwide to other developers who wish 
to collaborate.

Sunkworks are selling software at three points to serve businesses.

On pricing, FOSS will be available be free of charge, where the only 
charges are for installation and improvements .

Mr Kasani also says the use of FOSS enhances the PC speed. Using Open 
Source, one would not need to install an antivirus gadget, making it 
cheaper.

On the other hand, Microsoft Initiative is stemmed from the fact that 
software piracy and counterfeiting in Kenya has up to recent years been 
widespread yet discreet .

Abednego Hlatshwayo, Microsoft Anti-Piracy Manager for East and Southern 
Africa says, locally, a significant number of PCs running on 
counterfeit/pirated software are found in cyber cafés spread out in 
urban centres and, increasingly, in rural areas, a situation whose 
ripple effect heavily contributes to poor quality software.

This increases information risks, leads to massive unemployment, and 
loss of revenue to government.

“Our Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) programme provides a platform for 
consumers to validate their Microsoft Windows software as well as 
provide notifications to consumers using non-genuine Microsoft Windows 
XP. Customers using genuine software have access to Microsoft download 
centre for latest features, updates, and support.

“Many customers do not know whether they are running a genuine copy of 
Windows software, and the WGA notifications feature is a simple and 
effective way to help them know the status of their software,” says Mr 
Hlatshwayo