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Microsoft Blackmails China and Then Fires 300 Chinese Employees

Grand Hyatt



Summary: Microsoft struggles to convince people to pay for software, then resorts to extortion and lays off many more employees

Last week we wrote about Microsoft's blackmail in China. This allegation seemed bold at the time, but it is now concurred by an independent source that says (in the headline): "Microsoft fights Chinese software piracy with blackmail"



To say software piracy and the use of counterfeit versions of Windows operating systems and products is rife in China is an understatement of colossal proportions. How can Microsoft tackle this problem, which is harming its business in the important emerging market of Asia? Blackmail.


As ruthless and potentially illegal as it, previously we showed that Microsoft had prioritised layoffs where labour is expensive. Nonetheless, it has just been announced that Microsoft is laying off 300 Chinese workers.

In detail, the company slashed over 300 employees in the mainland and ten employees or so in Taiwan. Most of the employees were for the MCS, EPG, as well as Windows Live divisions, pointed out an overseas report, adding that some executives were also laid off.


This was also covered in:



Microsoft is letting many people go and it may be a clear indication of financial difficulties.

"It's easier for our software to compete with Linux when there's piracy than when there's not."

--Bill Gates

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