Pirated Microsoft Windows 7 DVDs generate $100,000 in India

About 50,000 pirated DVDs of Microsoft Windows 7 are estimated to have been sold here since the official launch on Oct 22, generating
unaccounted business of around Rs 50 lakh (nearly $100,000).

The reason for the allure of the pirated versions: These cost Rs.40-Rs.250 in Naza Market in Hazratganj here, drawing buyers from not only the rest of Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand but also Nepal and Bangladesh.

"This is the biggest market in the region," said a shopkeeper in Hazratganj, claiming at least 50,000 DVDs of the pirated Windows 7 have been sold since hitting the local markets within 24 hours of the official launch, fetching sellers about Rs.50 lakh so far.

The legal version of the new operating system launched by Microsoft Corp costs between $150-$300 (Rs.7,500-Rs.15,000) in the international markets. The company, however, tagged its prices 20 percent below international rates in India, where it is available in the Rs.6,000-Rs.11,000 range through official channels. Despite the discounted company rates, buyers are opting for the pirated version. "Why invest Rs.10,000 when it is available for Rs.250?" asked Pramod Yadav, a student pursuing a Master of Computer Applications (MCA) course. Added Mohit Singh, who runs a computer hardware and software maintenance company: "We pay for only the DVD as we are regular customers. A DVD hardly costs Rs.20-40." Most computer service providers or "regular customers" in Lucknow and elsewhere in India use pirated software, contended Nishant Kumar, a software engineer with HCL Technologies in Greater Noida. According to him, what makes the pirated operating systems more attractive is that cheap pirated anti-virus software is also freely available. "A lot of anti-virus software, for example Awast, is available on the Internet," Kumar said, adding that it was equally effective and has the same service life.





Those selling pirated Windows 7 deny doing anything illegal.





There are over 200 shops in Naza Market. All have everything you want. We are not doing anything illegal as everything is available on the Internet," said a shopkeeper not willing to be named. "We are only transferring and supplying to buyers who include students, professionals and even big business houses."





Those selling authentic software are unhappy.

Gutka Pouch , Unmanageable Threat

The Government's proposal to ban the use of multi-layered laminated plastic packaging has elicited a strong response from the industry with several pleading to present their case before the environment ministry. The Justice Chopra report recommended that the small pouches segment of the vast plastic based packaging industry had become unmamageable.
The notification also proposes to increase the thickness of polybags from 20 microns to 40 microns.
The proposed notification recommends a strict control and license system for manufacturers of plastic carry bags and containers and also requires the manufactures to label their products based on whether they are made from virgin plastic,recycled plastic or biodegradabele material. With debate also building around what is really biodegradable plastic,the ministry has proposed that only products that match BIS regulations would be allowed to be manufactured and used.