Microsoft wins piracy case

Microsoft has won a copyright infringement case against Dongguan-based internet cafe chain Tonecan for the use of pirated Microsoft software. The company had sued Tonecan for RMB1.5 million (US$225,310) 12 months ago although the final amount has not been revealed. Tonecan has agreed it will use genuine software in the future.
King & Wood lawyer Qu Miao, who handled the case, said the result will have a "considerable social impact" on internet cafes throughout China.
China Briefing reports Tonecan operates a chain of eight internet cafes in Dongguan and owns 10 companies that provide internet access services. China has roughly 138,000 internet cafes with a total of some 1.35 million regular users, many of whom use pirated software,
Microsoft had approached Tonecan in 2008 to ask them to use original software, but Tonecan deferred making such changes despite Microsoft offering it a preferential five-year program to become compliant, which included preferential pricing.