From IT ProPortal:
With Microsoft cranking up its effort to reduce the use of pirated Windows operating systems in China, a group of Chinese software pirates have developed a new operating system called Ylmf OS which essentially is a customised version of Ubuntu Linux with a Windows XP style user interface and is capable of running many Windows XP based programs…
Predictably, Microsoft is not very happy with the Ylmf OS as it clearly comes across an infringement of its user interface copyright. Many industry experts believe that Microsoft’s strict anti-piracy policy in Chinese operating system market has prompted Chinese pirates to imitate the user interface of the software giant’s operating system. However it still does not clear them of possible lawsuits related to copyright violations from Microsoft.
From Nick Eaton with Seattle PI:
Talk about clever. Chinese software scammers have for years been creating and selling pirated copies of the Microsoft operating system. And recently, the Redmond-based company has been cracking down on piracy in China.
The solution? Make Windows XP out of Linux…It’s based on Ubuntu 9.10 and re-skinned to look like Windows XP. The OS comes with Open Office, an open-source productivity suite that competes with Microsoft Office, and also comes with with Wine, which allows Windows applications to run on other operating systems.
I contacted Microsoft to see if they knew of Ylmf OS and what legal options they might have. Because Ylmf OS is based on Linux, and not a straight Windows XP hack, the applicable law here is foggy. Especially since intellectual property law enforcement in China is so lax.
