The court awarded Microsoft $318,000. This is the first successful case that Microsoft has fought in China over copyright infringement of its software.
Microsoft told the court that they wanted to promote the use of genuine software for large companies. Evidence used in court showed that Dazhong Insurance had used at least 450 copies of pirated software and violated software piracy laws in nine categories.
China Briefing reported that Chris Devonshire-Ellis of Dezan Shira & Associates, a foreign direct investment firm, said, “This case will become a landmark in China IP development as the defendant was a large Chinese corporation backed by the state. It shows that the Chinese leadership themselves want Chinese companies to cease using defective and pirated products and to protect the integrity of their administration, while at the same time acknowledging Microsoft’s right to charge for that quality of service and software.”