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Chilean Tribe Wants to Take Microsoft to Court

An interesting legal battle erupted between United States software giant Microsoft and the Indian tribe of Mapuche that is based in Chile. The tribe is trying to take Microsoft to court and claims that the software giant has used the Mapuzugun language without authorization. The story began last month when Microsoft launched its Windows software in Mapuzugun and said that it wanted to help the tribe embrace the new digital age, but the tribe`s leader did not see eye-to-eye with Microsoft on that matter. The tribe claims that Microsoft translated the software to Mapuzugun without their consent.

"We feel like Microsoft and the Chilean Education Ministry have overlooked us by deciding to set up a committee (to study the issue) without our consent, our participation and without the slightest consultation," said the tribe`s leaders. The issue shines on a very important matter, which is whether or not a language belongs to the people who speak it. The tribe even sent Bill Gates, Microsoft`s founder, a letter saying that his company committed "intellectual piracy".

Microsoft seems to have a fight on its hands. The tribe is not willing to let the matter go, and plans to go to appeal to several courts if their claim will be denied. Microsoft has translated dozens of languages before, and is backing by the Chilean government on the issue. The Chilean government believes that Microsoft`s step will help the Mapuche cultural, or else the Mapuzugun language will become like Latin, and spoken only in universities.