I was all set to do a blog entry lambasting Microsoft for teaming with the Russian government to use charges (often bogus) of software piracy to persecute human rights organizations. The title was going to be Evil empire meets evil empire.
But Microsoft did the right thing. Within a day of the New York Times story, Microsoft issued a blanket license for human rights groups. The license applies automatically, without any need to apply. I have no doubt that Russia will find other ways to persecute its dissidents, but they won’t be able to use Microsoft to do it.
Well done, Microsoft.
(Via Volokh.)
