CEBU CITY – In its bid to help eradicate the problem on software piracy in the country, Microsoft Philippines has introduced in Cebu a new program for the Internet café industry.

The Microsoft I-Café Program launched here recently, was attended by some 130 members of the Internet Café Association of Cebu (ICAC), to encourage Internet café owners to use genuine software with Microsoft Philippines offering exclisive promotional prices on Microsoft products Windows 7 and Office Professional 2007.

“The ICAC has been asking us since 2002 for a best price (for our software applications) to help them improve their businesses through getting appropriate licensing,” said Fortune Magsadia, business development manager of Microsoft Philippines.

Citing a study by a global technology research firm, Magsadia said the country has a 69 percent software piracy rate.

Magsadia bared the Microsoft Philippines has decided to reduce the standard retail price of its Windows 7, for instance, from P9,000 down to P2,000, to help alleviate the problem on piracy.

“We hope that the I-Café program will level the playing field for the café owners,” Magsadia said, noting the concern raised by several Net café operators using genuine Microsoft products, who find it “unfair” that their competitors are earning more than they do but are in fact using pirated software.

“This is not to stop their business. This is not to make it harder for them to do business but to level the playing field because there are still honest businesses,” said Magsadia.

Under the current Microsoft licensing terms, Magsadia said a third party is not allowed to use the Microsoft software.

However, under the I-Café Program, Microsoft has developed a rental rights agreement exclusive for Internet café owners who will use genuine Microsoft software.

The agreement gives Internet café owners the right to rent out the use of Microsoft Windows Operating System and Microsoft Office applications.

Aside from the rental rights agreement, Magsadia said Internet café owners using genuine software can enjoy benefits like free tools that include business management tools, a billing and metering tool, business management documents, best practices guides, a business plan template, and a customer registry.

Other benefits include consumer applications, such as PC health tools, PC user training, and digital literacy.

Microsoft Southern Philippines Territory Manager George Parilla, in an interview with Manila Bulletin, described the response coming from the Net Café operators on the program as “overwhelming.”

“It provided an opportunity for Microsoft to face the Internet café industry in Cebu and educate them on the right software to use for their businesses. The program is a way for Microsoft to help these Net café operators since they are the ones most exposed to raids,” Parilla said.

He noted several inquiries already from Net café operators wanting to avail of the program.
“Many operators do want to comply with the licensing agreement only that they find it expensive to get genuine software. With the huge discount and by enrolling in the I-Café program, we hope that they will take advantage of Microsoft more,” Parilla concluded.