No Soup for Chinese Surfers

by Frank Jovine on 10/23/2008 in Internet, Software

Chinese Internet users are outraged with Microsoft’s launch of an anti-piracy tool targeting Chinese computer users to ensure they buy genuine software.

The “Windows Genuine Advantage” program, which turns the user’s screen black if the installed software fails a validation test, is Microsoft’s latest weapon in its war on piracy in China, where the vast majority of 200 million computer users are believed to be using counterfeit software, unwittingly or not.

Users Lash Out:

“Why is Microsoft automatically connected with my computer? The computer is mine!” one angry blogger wrote on popular Chinese web portal Sina.com. “Microsoft has no right to control my hardware without my agreement.”

Another blogger railed over the cost of authorized versions.

“If the price of genuine software was lower than the fake one, who would buy the fake one?” he wrote.

A visitor to a Beijing internet cafe said Microsoft was violating people’s rights.

“If, when I’m programming, the computer screen goes black, that will probably cause some important information to be lost,” he said. “Who will pay me for my loss then?”

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7 Responses to “No Soup for Chinese Surfers”

  1. anon

    Oct 23rd, 2008

    Wow… if those quotes are true, then there’s people in china that are just as stupid as some of the people here in the US.

    They should all just switch to Linux, and then they wouldn’t have these legality issues.

  2. POTPOLITICS@DO FOLLOW

    Oct 23rd, 2008

    I can see both sides as I never directly bought software myself I guess they need to get down on Linux :)

  3. juan de la cruz

    Oct 24th, 2008

    it is about time for the user to pay for the right to use the software. Microsoft invest money to developed the software.You cannot claim that is unfair.

  4. Michael Aulia

    Oct 24th, 2008

    I read this on this morning’s newspaper. Found it weird. Why would these people complain if they are using pirated ones? (and even blaming the sellers?)

    Doesn’t really make sense to me O_o

    It’s like you’re breaking into someone’s house and steal things; and then blame it to the house door that is not being locked properly

  5. Frank J

    Oct 24th, 2008

    Mike,

    I agree I think this is an invasion of privacy on Microsoft’s part, but the user is still breaking the law.

  6. Frank J

    Oct 24th, 2008

    Juan,

    Yes! A company can’t make profits if people are stealing software.

  7. Frank J

    Oct 24th, 2008

    anaon,

    Linux though it’s free some people have a problem with change.