China jails copyright violators

Hundreds of websites in China offer links to pirated movies and games

A Chinese court has jailed four people for spreading their "Tomato Garden" computer software, a bootleg version of Microsoft's Windows XP programme.

The state news agency Xinhua called it China's biggest software piracy case.

Hong Lei created the downloadable "Tomato Garden Windows XP" software in 2004, which allowed users to access Microsoft programmes.

China is eager to show trade partners that it is fighting computer piracy, although fakes are readily available.

Hong and one accomplice were sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail while two others received two years in jail each.

Hong "created the Tomato Garden version of the Windows XP", which crippled the programme's authentication and certification barriers, allowing users unrestricted access to the popular Microsoft software, Xinhua said.

Millions of internet users then had free access to the software on a website, tomatolei.com, which made its earnings from advertisements on the site, it said.

A US congressman, Howard Berman, who has just been visiting China expressed scepticism about China's efforts to contain software piracy.

"China's efforts to stop intellectual property theft have been weak and ineffective - heavy on tough talk but light on implementation," Mr Berman said in a statement issued by his office and quoted by Reuters news agency.

"Hundreds of websites provide downloads and links to pirated movies, recordings and games," his statement said.

Last year, the Business Software Alliance - a business coalition campaigning against commercial piracy - complained to Chinese authorities. Hong and his colleagues were arrested later in the year.