China: Microsoft vs. netizens

Microsoft’s controversial launch of Windows Genuine Advantage software in China brought panic to a huge number of piracy users in the country.

In China, a genuine Windows software costs over 1000 RMB, about the monthly GDP per person. On the other hand, any pirate Windows hawked all over streets only take you 5 RMB, less than $1. Futhermore, pirate Windows is identical with the genuine in almost any feature as it can updat via internet, has better appearance (for example, the famous pirate version “tomato garden”), and therefore is by no means inferior. This leads to the overwhelming advantage of piracy over the genuine. In Tencent.com, an online poll shows 74.28％ of the participants, 440711 totally are using pirate Windows. (till 21, Oct)

Now with the WGA, plus OGA directed at pirate Microsoft Office, your computer would be pestered as if attacked by hackers: first, your screen will blackout every 60 minutes. Second, a reminder will continuously pop out to warn that you are using a pirate software. It sounds quite like that a big brother is watching you.

Panic is the first reaction of computer users in China. In the city Shengyang, north China, journalists found that ^[1] the sales record of genuine Windows had surged by 50% even before the WGA and OGA came into effect. In Beijing, a salesperson told that ^[2] shareholders who transact online have swarmed over to buy the genuine Windows in case that their business might be affected.

Actually, however, the WGA cannot be implemented until Windows automatically download from the internet a package specific for the function. Other than the uninformed users, more people chose to shut down the Windows Update to avoid WGA once for all. Many geeks have been itching to find a way breaking through WGA’s blockade.

Beyond panic, Chinese users poured anger upon Microsoft, with tons of reasons to justify their disregard of the copyright. In the poll on Tencent, 77.48％of 459944 people vote against WGA. On discussion boards and blogs, it’s not uncommon to see netizens rail against Microsoft.

Columnist blogger Liang Ding wrote on a regional portal Jingchu ^[3]:

“微软的“黑屏计划”很糟糕”

中国成为微软盗版操作系统天堂（多数个人用户使用盗版已是公认的事实），与伊始微软为迅速打开并占据中国市场，对盗版睁一只眼，闭一只眼的默认是有极大关 系，如今成了绝对霸主，再杀个回马枪，怎么看都像过河拆桥之举；另一方面，微软令人诟病的高定价策略，十来年前，其操作系统的定价甚至超过了在欧美国家的 价格，几乎相当于一般中国人大半年的工资，如此策略，叫网民买“正版”有可能嘛？

He furthermore pointed out that

而微软现在依然实施的高价策略，以及其绝对垄断的市场地位，使得网民使用盗版的举动有了“对抗霸权”的含义。对于分散在互联网各处的终端用户而言，微软是绝无可能发挥其集团“兵力优势”的

A more radical point comes from a reply ^[4] of Liang Ding’s article,

同意以上观点！微软还是不要惹火烧身为好！就算比尔给世界上的贫困阶层做一点儿微 不足道的社会公益事业吧！你们赚那么多钱干什么用？老百姓不用新技术，你们的新技术如何推陈出新？知识共享的时代快要到来了，你们还是多做一点贡献，这样 更有利于世界大同！狡猾的没有德行的美国人一边用枪炮公开侵略掠夺世界一边幕后黑箱操作、买空卖空、坑梦拐骗，还用实物贸易赚了中国人两万亿美元的产品， 给我们的却是日日贬值的一堆废纸！何其无耻！

Few people would think Microsoft can win the war under the waves of rage. So is there any way out for Microsoft?

Playin’ with IT posted his quiz ^[5]online to show what people prefer to see from Microsoft.

1. 默许盗版，让所有收入不高的人，都可以接触最新的科技
2. 默许盗版，可以达到永远压制国内软件产业和开源产业发展的目的
3. Windows永久免费，将中国区作为一个特别区，试验新的商业模式
4. 停止开发中文版产品，永远放弃中国市场
5. 严打盗版，恢复软件产业的良性发展，同时也为竞争产品留出市场
结果是，第三条“Windows永久免费，将中国区作为一个特别区，试验新的商业模式”得到了压倒性的支持。

The result is, the choice 3 win an overwhelming support.

But Microsoft is not likely to take this advice. A hard battle is looming. Microsoft vs. millions of piracy users, international corporation vs. developing state, who will win the final victory?