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Bill Gates "nicked our language"

Indians take on Microsoft
Fri Nov 24 2006, 07:43
MAPUCHE INDIANS in Chile are upset that software conquistador Microsoft has issued a version of its software in their language.

The tribe, which successfully fought off Inca and Spanish expansion, said it was not consulted by the government or Vole before its language was included in Microsoft products.

According to Reuters, over 400,000 indigenous Chileans speak Mapuzugun.

Tribal leaders claim Microsoft is violating the tribe's cultural and collective heritage and have accused t Bill Gates of "intellectual piracy".

A spokesMapuche said that the tribe feels that Microsoft and the Chilean Education Ministry have overlooked them by deciding to set up a committee to study the problem without the elders' consent, participation or consultation.

Now the tribe is going to court in a bid to stop the distribution of the software.

More here. µ

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