RP signs pact with Microsoft<\/p>\n
REDMOND, Wash (Reuters): Philippines President Fidel Ramos met
\nwith Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates Friday and proudly
\ncollected a certificate legalizing much of his government's
\npirated computer software.<\/p>\n
After a ceremony to observe the signing of agreements
\ntightening relations between the software giant and the
\nPhilippines, Gates presented Ramos with a license for free
\nsoftware that was the equivalent of a partial declaration of
\namnesty.<\/p>\n
The license allows the Philippine government to use older
\nMicrosoft products, such as the DOS operating system, that
\npreviously were being used illegally by many government agencies
\nin the Southeast Asian nation, where the software piracy rate is
\nan estimated 90 percent.<\/p>\n
The license, valued at up to $1 million, was granted in
\nrecognition of the Ramos government's determination to legalize
\nsoftware used by public agencies, Microsoft officials said.<\/p>\n
Microsoft also has agreed to grant half-price licenses to the
\ngovernment for current software programs such as Windows 95 and
\nOffice, Sam Jacoba, Microsoft business development manager for
\nthe Philippines, said.<\/p>\n
\"This is a historic moment for all of us because now we are
\nall legally interconnected,\" Ramos said, holding up a leather
\nbinder containing the licensing grant.<\/p>\n
Under the agreements signed at the ceremony, Microsoft will
\nprovide \"advisory and consultancy\" services to help the
\nPhilippines reach its goal of establishing the information
\ninfrastructure to connect every home, school, business and
\ngovernment agency by 2000.<\/p>\n
Gates said he would visit the Philippines sometime in the
\nfirst half of 1998.<\/p>\n
Ramos also met with several top Boeing executives during his
\nstopover on the way to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
\nmeeting in Vancouver.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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