The Perm regional court in central Russia has dropped the criminal case against a village school headmaster Aleksandr Ponosov, accused of copyright abuse. The court ruled the case did not pose a danger to the public.

Aleksandr Ponosov was charged in May of 2006, when an inventory check by a regional prosecutor revealed all computers in the school used unlicensed Microsoft programmes.

The damages to Microsoft were estimated at 267,000 roubles, which is almost $US 10,000.

The computers were gifts to the small school, with less than 400 students.

Ponosov's case drew the attention of government and public organisations, such as the Gorbachev Fund, Russia's Public Chamber, and the Perm Ministry of Education.