The government of China and seven computer companies were sued by a software maker in the United States after allegations of piracy have been brought to court, particularly on account of the company’s Internet filtering software.

Charges of piracy and stealing

The complainant is Cybersitter LLC, maker of software created specifically for parents, providing them with a means to sort out which types of content may be seen by their children or otherwise. According to Cybersitter LLC, the Chinese were able to copy and use its codes, integrating them into software used by the Chinese government in order to stop citizens from getting access to sites which are not politically favorable. The software company also filed a suit against computer manufacturers, including Lenovo, Toshiba, and Sony, for allegedly incorporating the program into computers sold within the borders of China.

Lawyer Gregory Fayer represents Cybersitter, which is currently based in Santa Barbara, and in his statement he maintains that what the Chinese have committed is blatant stealing. According to him, the theft was brought into attention after a researcher at a university published an online report on web-based filtering programs. As it appears, after the software makers from China were able to download the program through the server, the codes were then integrated into the program, also known as Green Dam Youth Escort.

The other side of the coin

Questions were posed to the foreign ministry of China. However these were passed on to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which weren’t able to give out comments immediately upon request. Also, a representative from the Lenovo Group announced through e-mail that the company has no further comments on the case, except that the Lenovo has stopped shipping computer units with Green Dam for a few months.

As for Sony Corporation and Benq Corporation from Taiwan, both refused to comment stating that they lack sufficient details on the pending litigation. Other computer companies involved in the case, such as Toshiba Corp, Acer Inc., and Asustek Computer Inc. of Taiwan, and Lenovo Group and Haier Group of China, all refused to give out comments or answer questions.

Cybersitter also filed charges on two software makers in China, Zhengzhou Jinhui Computer System Engineering and Beijing Dazheng Human Language Technology Academy. Both were not able to comment on the said pending case filed against them.

Cybersitter seeking royalty damages

Cybersitter is actually a family-owned business. Accordingly, the company is set to fight for royalty damages due on the software, which retails at $39.95 per copy. According to the company lawyer, Gregory Fayer, Cybersitter is offering the world a unique product, and such original ideas should be subject to intellectual property rights. Protection for these products should be made available at all times.