The government is aware that establishing a system for software copyright protection is vital in encouraging foreign firms to offer their latest proprietary technologies in China. The government has issued occasional circulars on the subject, including one distributed within the ministries forbidding their use of counterfeit software. The move demonstrates the government's resolve to address the issue at the highest levels.
Pirated software is cheaper and still more readily available than genuine software. Piracy of business application software remains a significant problem and stronger countermeasures are required.
New software regulations have recently been issued, and finally include measures that increase the chance of successful prosecution, such as provisions for the preservation of evidence. Consumers are encouraged to purchase genuine software as the new regulations confer liability for pirated software on the end user. Since these regulations have only recently been introduced, it will be some time before their full effect will be felt and it is still unknown how strictly the authorities will interpret them.
