News - Chinese court punishes Microsoft for IP infringement

[HEXUS]

A Beijing court has ordered certain copies of Microsoft's operating systems to be banned after declaring the firm had infringed on IP belonging to a Chinese font-making firm.

Read more.

[Flash477]

Even if Microsoft's appeal is unsuccessful, however, it's not believed the ban would especially hurt the firm due to the sheer amount of software piracy which already slashes its profits in China. An IDC report recently estimated that around 80 per cent of all software sold behind the bamboo curtain was pirated.

Before even reading the article that was the first thing that popped into my head

[Saracen]

I wonder if the Chinese court will go after the pirates shifting fake copies of MS operating systems for infringing Chinese font IP in their pirate software? Kind-of a double-infringing thing.

This does rather seem like a burglar being irate at having his own house burgled.

Mind you, if the Chinese authorities are finally going to start taking piracy seriously, and there are some signs that they are, then it applies to all and if MS are infringing rights, then the "hypocrite" tag is deserved there too ..... if the ruling is upheld.

[aidanjt]

Oh the irony.

[shaithis]

certain copies of Microsoft's operating systems

And they will be copies