[ltp] Re: Lenovo to shun Linux

[Jiang Qian]

> As I understand the new law, computers must be sold with a properly 
> licensed OS.  Isn't a copy of Red Hat (or Red Flag) a properly 
> licensed OS?
Yes it is but I'm afraid the sad reality is that most people in China I 
know, when faced with Redhat on their computer, will just resort to 
pirated windows in bafflement. You can argue that if Chinese were first 
faced with linux not pirated windows they'll be as comfortable with 
linux as they're with Windows. But the sad reality is that they're 
already used to pirated windows so linux is as baffling to them as the 
Average American Joe grow up with windows 98.

So no it is not that what they did, such as selling a computer with free 
DOS or linux on it, is technically illegal. It is that they were 
abetting illegal piracy *in practice*. And what U.S. government, who 
keep up the pressure on the Chinese side, on behalf of M$ in this case, 
cares about is what happen *in practice*. And Lenovo apparently felt 
compelled to make a "better than strictly legal" gesture.
Jiang