Microsoft fights Chinese software piracy with blackmail
To say software piracy and the use of counterfeit versions of Windows operating systems and products is rife in China is an understatement of colossal proportions. How can Microsoft tackle this problem, which is harming its business in the important emerging market of Asia? Blackmail.
According to Red Orbit, Microsoft has inked a deal with the authorities of the Chinese city of Hangzhou. The new partnership will see Microsoft’s first cloud computing center located in the capital of Zhejiang province, a train ride away from Shanghai. Microsoft will also help build the IT industry in the city.
A nice initiative in a part of the world which is likely to see huge growth in this are over the next few years. However, it doesn’t come for free. In return for Microsoft’s supposed charity, the Hangzhou municipal government has promised to up the fight against intellectual property rights offenses in the city and to encourage the use of genuine software by government agencies, businesses, and consumers.
Microsoft and the municipal government will achieve its aims by rewarding those who use legal software. Which, if the current statistics are anything to go by, is only about 20 percent of people. The agreement is for three years and if successful could be used as the template for other cities in China.
Cai Qi, Hangzhou’s mayor, said in a statement:
Partnering with leading IT companies like Microsoft will greatly boost Hangzhou’s innovative capabilities and help us build a model information technology city in China.
Software piracy and the use of counterfeit products is a huge problem in China, and Microsoft knows this only too well. This new scheme may amount to nothing more than blackmail – you reduce piracy and we’ll help your city grow – but it is at least a step-up from Microsoft’s last effort to solve the problem.
Microsoft previously used its Windows Genuine Advantage program to turn computers running unofficial versions of Windows XP black every hour. Which, as you may imagine, made the machines virtually unusable. So from black screen to blackmail. Simple.
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May 18th, 2009
how about start by making their OS affordable? What? they can’t make a profit with anything less than $100+ per copy? Retailer’s give stuff out for free to promote their products, and those are physical items.
May 20th, 2009
So we will help you if you stop stealing our product is now blackmail? Seriously? Microsoft is going to provide employment and build out IT infrastructure and has the audacity to ask the local government to adhere to the law. The cheeky bastards.
You’re better than this.
August 29th, 2009
thanks a lot!
nice post and great.
thanks again..