Are Microsoft bribed government tie-ins illegal?

urbieta writes: "I work in IT for a local mexican private university, we have been sending student information to our government officials in old BDF format for years with the software they provide us, but the new version requires a "Microsoft SQL SERVER" to operate! and a license of course just to install the government`s software on our pc. I just found out, so my first thought is corruption, bribes, or complete incompetence from our government officials (yeah right!), so how do you suggest I start fending off this B.S.?"