Utter pants. Somebody's been to the big city and seen how you can get money for nothing.

Exactly so - they should be grateful to Microsoft for helping to preserve their culture. It's unlikely that Microsoft is going to earn enough from extra sales to pay for their costs - companies like Microsoft and Google do this kind of thing for goodwill - because they're trying to be inclusive.

Does this mean the Queen is entitled to a royalty from Microsoft since they are using the Queen's English in their programs?

You can carry on spreading your english global if You wish, but don't blame a culture which wants to preserve its immunity by keeping the heritage together. Those people are actually believing in something very vital and necessary for their wellbeing. That we don't even have a clue what they mean shouldn't make us feal that we are more right than they are. Mapuche indians are not just some kannibalizing savages, they have a culture flooding with understanding of the nature, something we 1st world country people totally lack. Keep on messing with Your minds people, good luck with your fears.

For those who speak and don´t know the core of the problem:

The mapuche language is basically an oral one. It has a big variety of grafemaries (written versions) that were developed during the 20 th century by linguists, but hasn´t yet been decided which one is the definite.

Microsoft and the Chilean government decided upon one grafemary to translate Windows without consulting the mapuche nation. This would mean that a foreign company and Governmet end up by imposing the grafemary upon a nation through the use of this vital technology.

And that is why mapuches are not happy about this new windows.

A final note: MICROSOFT DOES NOTHING FOR GOODWILL

The people here are taking advantage of a great benefactor. Microsoft is doing a great thing for Chileans, translating their language. It would even be greater if they translated every language into any language you set as your preference language in your browser.
Thus allowing all peoples to communicate freely with such great understanding we all would be so grateful be able to understand so quickly anothers ideas, thoughts and get along very very well. Or not.. (ha)
So when you were browsing and you docked into a URL with another language, the browser translates it into your preference language and wow so cool this idea, hope Microsoft gets on it right away, like team up with google, like google nearly has it like that, but you have to copy & paste or paste the URL into the translation page.
Microsoft looks like you ran into a medicine ball of greed, with The Chileans, maybe they will see the benefit of your kindness. But with so much media around the world everyone trying to get a law suited bite of Microsofts billions, they want a bite too.
I`d by pass the lawyers and such, eliminating the millions there and ask for that. How about it Microsoft gotta a couple Mill for me, this Ideas got to be worth more than that, just in sales?
I`d spend it wisely.. I think?
Like developing an Interactive 3D Holographic Desktop.
Maybe some Nano-Technology seeings how that's our next avenue of exploration & adventure. Hummm.... Will the two mix? Ya think? (ha).

"Preserve their culture"?

Have you never encountered Microsoft's innovative 'International English'? They can't program their native language without mangling it.

How well do you reallly expect them to 'preserve' a Chilean Indian tongue?

I'm with #5.
In this time when spoken languages need to become written languages to survive, the speakers should choose which written version is correct. Something not granted to the indigenous people in North America in the 19th century and earlier.
I am also in favor of anyone who tries to stick it to Microsoft, especially if there is a change they have a case.