"We will not ask the authorities to conduct checks ... and we don't intend to bring criminal charges" even if authorities find evidence of copyright violations, Yevgeny Danilov, head of Microsoft's strategic projects in Russia, said Monday.
The suspension will last until Aug. 31.
Many Internet cafes have been subject to police raids and seizures of computers as a result of Microsoft's legal actions, and have lately "expressed a readiness to acquire licenses for the use of products," Danilov said.
Computer ownership in Russia and Ukraine remains low, and many people rely on small local computer clubs and cafes for Internet access.
Software pirates are believed to control up to 90 percent of the Russian and Ukrainian markets, and inflict losses estimated at hundreds of millions dollars a year on their governments and Western firms.
Dmitri Deregluzov, manager of Cafe Max in Moscow, said his Internet cafe's 300 computers use licensed software. But he said despite Microsoft's efforts, rooting out computer piracy will take a long time.
"Just look anywhere on the street, and you can find pirated programs, CDs, everything. It's hard for people to resist," he said.
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