Of course, Microsoft's blackout move is a wise action, and those who like to use pirated products have no reason to accuse the company, as they are, of dong something wrong.

Wu Jie (Xiaoxiang Morning Herald): Maybe Microsoft's genuine software is a bit too expensive for Chinese users. However, since the Windows XP and Office software are its proprietary products, the company has the full right to safeguard its intellectual property rights.

When Microsoft takes actions to safeguard its rights, pirated product users feel uncomfortable and condemn the action. Their condemnation is ridiculous, because the pirates are the ones in the wrong. However, Microsoft's move exposes the shortage in China's intellectual property right protection system. In real life, the infringement on intellectual property rights in China is not limited to Microsoft software alone.

The Chinese people's awareness of intellectual property rights is increasing, but the respect of intellectual property rights is not enough. No matter whether it is computer software or literary works, pirated products are common in the market. In China, stealing of one's personal belongings is considered a crime, but the same does not apply to intellectual property. Why is there such a disparity among different property rights?

From this perspective, even if Microsoft's blackout move is extreme, this warning is actually being tolerant to pirated product users. To respect intellectual property rights should become a consensus of modern society.

Liao Dekai (Chengdu Business Daily): Microsoft's blackout move is a kind of helpless action. The company suffers a lot in terms of the infringement on its intellectual property rights in China. Its experience in China is a sample of many businesses. At the same time, it is the pirated versions of Microsoft software that help the company to secure a dominant share of China's software market. However, the law focuses on whether the pirate practice has infringed on intellectual property rights holders' legitimate rights, rather than any possible benefits.

At the same time, is it only the pirates themselves contravening the law or are pirated software users also in the same boat? Although the law stipulates that those who do not know they are buying illegal products can be exempted from responsibility through certain procedures, most pirated product users know very well they are not using genuine products.

Go after fake manufacturers, not users

Liu Chunquan (Shanghai Securities News): Microsoft has the intellectual property rights for the Windows XP and Office software. The company can develop technological methods to prevent others from illegally copying its software and refuse to update pirated versions, but it has no right to interfere with users while they are online. Its blackout move is undoubtedly illegal.

Besides, how does Microsoft judge whether the users have used pirated copies or not, when it's trying to update its Windows XP and Office software. Undoubtedly, it needs to collect users' information and this is probing into users' privacy.