Microsoft sues two Chinese IT firms

Two Beijing-based IT companies were brought to court for using a number of pirated Microsoft software packages in their offices. The US company is seeking at least 10 million yuan ($1.59 million) 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 its lawyer.

The judge of Beijing No 2 Intermediate Court ruled that the court needs to hear the case in a second trial due to stark differences in the two sides' estimates of economic losses.