A Russian court yesterday found a school principal guilty of using pirated Microsoft software and fined him 5,000 rubles ($195) after a retrial that has been cast by Russian media as a battle between a humble educator and a mighty international corporation.

The case of Alexander Ponosov, whom prosecutors accused of using bootlegged versions of the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office software on classroom computers, has attracted wide attention.

Microsoft has repeatedly said it has nothing to do with the charges.

In February, the court in the Vereshchaginsky district of the Perm region, about 1,200 kilometers east of Moscow, threw out the charges against Ponosov, saying his actions were "insignificant" and presented no danger to society.

Both Ponosov and prosecutors, however, appealed in hopes of forcing a decision that would completely exonerate him. In March, the court ordered him to stand trial a second time.

Prosecutors rejected Ponosov's assertions that the computers at the school came with the software already installed.

"He knew (he was violating law) and illegally used these programs in computer classes," prosecutor Natalya Kurdoyakova said in televized remarks.

Ponosov confirmed the court's verdict and said he planned to file an appeal.

"I had no idea it wasn't licensed," Ponosov said by telephone.

"Prosecutors made a lot of mistakes starting from the moment they checked the computers," he said.

The court ruled that Ponosov had caused 266,000 rubles ($10,000) in damage to Microsoft, the Prosecutor General's office said in a statement.

Russian officials frequently allege that foreign governments, including the United States, are meddling in its internal affairs, and Russian media have portrayed the case as that of a Western corporation bringing its corporate might to bear on one man in this case a school principal who also teaches history and who earns $360 a month. The 5,000-ruble fine is the equivalent of over half Ponosov's monthly wage.

But Microsoft said it was not involved in the charges.

"Mr Ponosov's case was initiated by Russian authorities under Russian law," the company said in an e-mailed statement after yesterday's verdict. "Microsoft neither initiated nor has any plans to bring any action against Mr Ponosov."

Despite government pledges to crack down on rampant piracy, Russia remains a top producer of bootlegged software, movies and music, according to trade groups and some Western governments.

The US administration last month put Russia, China and 10 other nations on a "priority watch list," which will subject them to extra scrutiny. It could eventually lead to economic sanctions if the administration decides to bring trade cases before the World Trade Organization.

Source: China Daily/Agencies