InformationWeek

June 30, 1999

Microsoft Gives Back

Who says nothing good can come from software piracy?

Microsoft says it will add $25 million--money recouped from antipiracy cases--over the next five years to its annual donations for helping underprivileged communities gain access to IT and for helping schools to conduct IT research.

"We think it's appropriate that Microsoft redirect monies recouped from these illegal activities into programs that will spread the benefits of technology more broadly," says Brad Smith, general counsel of worldwide sales and support for Microsoft.

Microsoft says 4.3 million units of counterfeited software were seized in 1999--about five times the 1998 total.

--Ashlee Vance