Sparks fly as computer screens go black

Software giant Microsoft has sparked a major controversy among millions of Chinese computer users with the nationwide launch yesterday of its "Screen Blackout" anti-piracy program.

Dong Zhengwei, 35, a Beijing lawyer, described Microsoft "as the biggest hacker in China with its intrusion into users' computer systems without their agreement or any judicial authority".

Dong, who filed a complaint with the Ministry of Public Security on Sunday, told China Daily yesterday: "Microsoft's measure will cause serious functional damage to users' computers and, according to China's Criminal Law, the company can stand accused of breaching and hacking into computer systems of Chinese."