Software Piracy Out Of Control In China

We've all heard that the Chinese have often infringed on intellectual property rights, but even I was taken back by the amount of piracy in China.

(SF Gate) Sales lost due to software piracy in China were about $3.9 billion in 2005, according to the Business Software Alliance, an industry group that tracks the illegal software trade.
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Last year, an estimated 86 percent of software installed on computers in China was pirated, according to the Business Software Alliance. Though staggering, that number is better than the 92 percent tallied in 2003, said Victor Zhang, director of the alliance's Beijing office.

The latest bit of piracy had Microsoft's Vista on the streets of China for $2-$4 a week before it's release date.