Microsoft, the world’s largest software company, will donate US$13 million, in "investment, software, training and scholarships" to support the new Cybernetic Park. Funds will be used to educate the population in the uses of technology and eradicate intellectual piracy. President Leonel Fernandez and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will sign the agreement in Seattle this week. The government, for its part, will commit itself to further efforts to stem piracy and foster a greater respect for intellectual property rights. Piracy has been rampant in the DR, which must face an evaluative review by the U.S Commerce Department next week on its efforts in this regard. Within the month Microsoft and the DR will also sign a licensing agreement for software to be used – and, as a corollary, for piracy to be eliminated – in all government offices. A similar agreement with the Mexican government has paved the way for the introduction of the internet into all schools, which is a Fernandez goal. Microsoft grants will also be used to foster "computer literacy," and provide 3,000 scholarships for studies in the field.
