US Software Maker Sues China, 7 Other Computer Companies

Business and Corporate Law January 8, 2010

Los Angeles – US software company Cybersitter LLC has filed a federal lawsuit against China and seven other computer makers for allegedly pirating its content filtering software used for blocking people from accessing certain websites.

In a lawsuit, Cybersitter seeks $2.2 billion damages against China for allegedly copying the software codes and incorporating these to a program that blocks online users from accessing sites considered as seditious and subversive by the government.

The software maker also charged seven major technology companies including Toshiba, Sony, and Lenovo for allegedly distributing computers which use the illegally copied program.

The Chinese government has been criticized for imposing strict Internet control to the extent that some human rights advocates said that it deprives people from their freedom of speech. Several popular websites including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are blocked from China.