Cracking Down on Piracy

In 2005 China’s courts convicted 741 people in 505 criminal product-piracy cases.

The courts also handled 16,453 civil cases of property-rights violations…an increase of 20% over 2004.

In short – China is trying to crack down on piracy.  They want to stop the illegal copying of movies, music, software and other goods.

The last time I was in China, I, um, procured a couple of movies from a street vendor outside of the US Embassy in Beijing. Excited about having something to watch on the 14 hour plane ride home…I soon learned…they didn’t work.

I was wrong for buying these things…I think it cost about $3 for 2 of them.  And it made me mad, too. I hope China does crack down on the theives, big time. And ask them to vive me back my $3!

Seriously, Hollywood movies and heart medications cost makers of legitimate products worldwide up to $50 Billion!  Ouch!

An interesting point is that 95% of the piracy cases involve violations against Chinese companies and only 5% against foregin companies….

Uh…is China going after the wrong people?

Doing business in China does have its challenges.