Bill Gates is shit...we have long known this...now he is attacking Cuba!
From the Morning Star
Cuba blocked on Messenger
Havana slammed US corporation Microsoft at the weekend for blocking its Messenger instant messaging service on the island and in other countries under US sanctions.
The technology giant recently announced that it was disabling the programme's availability in Cuba, Syria, Iran, Sudan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to come into compliance with a US ban on the transfer of licensed software to embargoed countries.
In an article published by state youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde, a technology correspondent said that the ban was "just the latest turn of the screw in the United States' technological blockade against the island," branding it "a truly harsh violation" of Cuba's rights.
Messenger has been used on the island for a decade without Microsoft interference.
Microsoft's director of Windows Live Product Management Dharmesh Mehta said that the Washington-based company had "made the change late last year in connection with the last product release of Windows Live Messenger."
"This is not a new change, but has only recently received attention," Mr Mehta said.
He added that "Microsoft is one of several major internet companies that have taken steps aimed at meeting their obligations to not do business with markets on the US sanctions list."
Since the 1960s, the US has prevented major world computer manufacturers, such as Intel, Hewlett Packard, IBM or Macintosh from directly selling their products to Cuba, in violation of international law.
Despite restrictions on US-licensed software, the Cuban government employs Windows operating systems and other Microsoft programmes on many of its computers, but it is working towards replacing them with open-source programmes.
2 comments:
According to Wiipedia: Bill Gates does not work day-to-day at Microsoft, but is a non-executive chairman. What does MS's decision have to do with Bill Gates?
Gates left Microsoft two years ago. And to be fair, his foundation is doing a fair bit doling out cash supporting healthcare and education in the developing world. Of course his politics are questionable, but he's doing a damn sight more than most fat cat capitalists do with his cash. Be nice to see Fred Goodwin etc having a bit more humility. I think you've slightly missed the target here
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx
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