Microsoft will make a series of investments in the eastern city of Hangzhou as part of a new strategy to fight software piracy in China, the Wall Street Journal reported. Microsoft’s China chief Simon Leung declined to provide the size of Microsoft’s total investment in the city but said it would be above and beyond the US$1 billion over three years that Microsoft has already pledged for research and development in China. Microsoft will establish technology centers in the city, offer discounted software to start-ups and provide training in universities. In return, Hangzhou will set enforcement targets for intellectual property rights violations. As cities compete to emerge as technology hubs in China, Microsoft hopes other cities will follow Hangzhou’s lead and crack down on software piracy.
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