Microsoft sues two Chinese IT companies over pirated software

BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese IT companies were brought to court on Thursday for using a number of pirated Microsoft software packages in their offices, and the U.S. company is seeking at least 10 million yuan (1.59 million U.S. dollars) in compensation.

Microsoft accused Beijing Ming Wan Zhi Da Technology Co., Ltd. and Ming Wan Information Technology Co., Ltd., which jointly operate two websites and offer e-commerce solutions to small and medium-sized companies, of installing pirated Microsoft Windows, Office, Visual Studio and other software packages on the companies' computers, according to the lawyer representing Microsoft in the case.

The two IT companies are based in Beijing and run branches across the country.

The 10 million yuan in compensation sought by Microsoft includes economic losses the U.S. company estimates it incurred related to the case. But the claim was vigorously refuted by the defense lawyer in court, citing miscalculation in the estimate, court officials said.

Microsoft also demanded the two companies issue a statement of apology in the country's flagship newspaper the People's Daily, the lawyer said.