The Chinese government is set to lead a new crusade against software piracy.
New regulations will force Chinese computer manufacturers to install legally licensed operating systems such as Window?s XP on all machines before they leave the factory. Foreign PC makers will also be affected by the new rules, which dictate that retailers must install software on imported computers before they are sold.
China has come under increasing pressure from the US to stamp out piracy in recent years. The country has a counterfeit software rate of 90%, compared to just 27% in the UK and a world average of 35%.Dell and Hewlett-Packard have both expressed ambitions to move into the Chinese market, where more than 95% of PCs have Windows installed.