A Powerful Antipiracy Weapon: Better Customer Support (int'l edition)

Piracy is sometimes a necessary evil, and it may be argued that Microsoft Corp. and similar companies are creating a vicious circle for software piracy (''Piracy!'' Cover Story, European Edition, July 26). Although the issue of the legality of software piracy may not be debatable, the use of such software may be. A monopolistic company like Microsoft has created significant dependence for its products; therefore, the use of such products is not always the customer's choice.

However, from my long experience with authentic Microsoft packages in numerous Third World countries, obtaining software updates and software support remains an unsolved problem. Even though I use authentic Microsoft products, I was never able to obtain support from the Web nor from the authorized agents and distributors, especially for major operating-system bugs.

It's debatable as to whether piracy creates markets or markets push for piracy. Software piracy is undoubtedly illegal and unethical, but in some cases, it may be a resort for unsatisfied but dependent customers.

Waddah Hallak
Damascus, Syria

The U.S. Should Make Top-Tier Schooling Affordable (int'l edition)

I read ''Why America had better wise up'' (Books, July 26) with much interest because I have a daughter entering college in September, 2000, and a son in September, 2003. Looking at college tuitions of the universities in the U.S., I can't help but wonder how many Americans can afford to pay what these universities charge. I'm afraid that American universities are creating competition for the U.S. as a whole because there are many foreign students from all over the world, especially from Asia, who go to American universities because they can afford it.

Not only that, these students go to the most competitive institutions, such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, and Stanford University. They use the knowledge these American universities teach them to create competition for Americans in their own countries. In other words, America is competing with its own invention and development.

Can we change the U.S. education system? Australian universities allow Australian citizens to go to university without having to pay now, instead deducting from their paychecks later for the amount owed for their schooling. If American universities would develop a similar system, the U.S. might find it has unlimited wealth right at home. This would make it so much easier for Americans with a desire to learn who can't afford the tuition.

With the looming budget surplus, instead of returning the money to taxpayers, as suggested by some people, why not use it to improve the education system? After all, we are talking about America's and Americans' future.

Tiana Nguyen
Jakarta

Let World Bank Bureaucrats Share the Pain of Default (int'l edition)

Robert J. Barro's account of ''My luncheon with Bono'' (Economic Viewpoint, July 12) is quite revealing. It appears that Bono's grasp of economics is no worse than Jeff Sachs's. It requires an enormous amount of charity to let an esteemed economist like Sachs off the hook for his ''novel'' belief that debt default does little damage to a country's reputation.

Perhaps the spin-doctoring and tortured rationalizations behind the International Monetary Fund's new tranche of $4 billion to Russia is merely a face-saving measure allowing Moscow to avoid default on interest payments. Yet an earlier agreement by Russia to honor some Czarist-era debt indicates that they understand that reputation is important in assessing credit-worthiness of sovereign debt.

Now that the IMF and World Bank preach about the wonders of accountability and transparency to their clients, the paymasters to these institutions should consider the following proposal:

Debt relief associated with Jubilee 2000 might be granted if the bureaucrats whose poor judgment led to the bad debts in question resign immediately and forfeit their pensions. Those already retired--including and especially Robert S. McNamara--should also relinquish claims to continued largesse.

This would go a long way toward overcoming ''moral hazard'' involved in policymaking in international financial bureaucracies. It would also convince those countries being told to enforce accountability that it is a universal phenomenon.

Christopher Lingle
Hong Kong

Real Men Don't Mix Sex and Sports (int'l edition)

In response to ''The 'babe factor' in women's soccer'' (American News, July 26), I disagree that a greater interest will be generated in female professional sports by how well sex appeal is promoted in each of its sports.

I, along with millions of other viewers watching the soccer finals match between the U.S. and China, did not watch the game for over two hours in anticipation that Brandi Chastain would reveal her sports bra after the final penalty kick. We watched in anticipation that the women's team would accomplish something (for the second time) that the men's team hasn't come close to accomplishing in World Cup competition.

Men watch female sports to view athletic talent combined with great competition, and we watch beauty pageants for great competition combined with sex appeal. Although our focus is limited, and we are easily distracted, men will always be able to keep them separate.

Damian O'Brien
Waldorf, Md.

''Battle of the batteries'' (Science & Technology, Aug 9.) (int'l edition)

The table in ''Battle of the batteries'' (Science & Technology, Aug 9.) misstated the number of cycles for Evercel's nickle-zinc batteries. They can be recharged 500 times, not 50.