Hao Hao ReportThe best China news and blog posts

A senior executive for Microsoft has said the firm could pull out of non-democratic countries such as China.

Microsoft was already generating criticism last summer, not long after the launch of its portal, because MSN Spaces users frequently experienced restrictions when they used certain words prohibited by the government. Until the beginning of this year, Zhao -- also known by his blog pseudonym Michael Anti -- was able to skirt complete censorship by Microsoft. Zhao told AsiaMedia on July 19, 2005 that he was able to avoid online censorship by knowing and avoiding using sensitive words.

Following the news reports of large busts in China (pirated Windows Office and Vista programs) and India (computer dealers in Gujarat), Microsoft is feeling pretty good about itself and its battle with its evil nemesis, the IP monster.

More on the saga of China condemning and possibly criminally charging Microsoft for its actions against users of pirated software.

A lawyer in Beijing is bringing criminal charges against Microsoft after the company "blacked-out" the backgrounds of illegal copies of Windows in China through its automatic update function.

Yahoo's stock prices are a four year low. Just last week the company, right down the street from where I live, laid off 1000 workers.

The company seems vulnerable. The vultures are circling.

You know media pirating has ingrained itself into a country or culture when a lawyer stands up and challenges Microsoft for denying him access to his pirated version of Windows.

NBC is offering complete streaming of the Olympics over the internet for the first time ever. It is great news for people working office jobs to be able to watch it from their desks. Unfortunately, it will only be available to Microsoft Vista users. To make it even worse, not only are Mac OS X and Linux users discriminated, as it will only be available to the Home Premium and Ultimate editions of Vista!

Police in Australia suspect that expensive construction equipment is being stolen and shipped to China. I think the link to the Olympics is questionable.