Gorbachev to Gates: Have Mercy

Former Russian President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mikhail Gorbachev has personally asked Bill Gates to show mercy to a Russian teacher charged with using pirated Microsoft software.

Gorbachev posted this message on his website, www.gorby.ru:

"A teacher, who has dedicated his life to the education of children andwho receives a modest salary that does not bear comparison with thesalaries of even regular staff in your company, is threatened withdetention in Siberian prison camps."

So, in Russia, you can be put in prison for small-scale software piracy? And, does Microsoft have the authority under Russian law to drop the charges against the pirate? The Reuters article states that Russia is mounting "a high-profile crackdown on piracy," so it seems like the Russian state would continue to prosecute regardless of Gates leniency.

For reference, the piracy crackdown in Russia is part of Russia's so-far unsuccessful efforts to join the World Trade Organization.

(CNN)