Even legitimate users of Microsoft software are up in arms about the company's use of an anti-piracy tool in China, reports the Economic Times.

As IT Examiner previously reported, the updated version of Microsoft’s anti-piracy tool logs certain information about the PC and then notifies the user if it detects illegal copies or counterfeits. The intrusive nature of the software, which turns the PC’s desktop black on detection of a fake copy of XP, is highly resented. The user’s background image is blacked out, and the piracy warning shows up in the corner of the screen, reappearing every 60 minutes.

Now, even users of legitimate software are turning their own screens black in protest, fearing an invasion of their privacy. Describing it as an unfair tactic, one authorised user, Dong Zhengwei, has filed a complaint against the company with the Public Security Ministry. He said, "The black-screen plan implies that Microsoft can hack all its users, not just the pirates."

Microsoft defended its actions, saying they were in compliance with Chinese law. In a statement, the company promised that its anti-piracy campaign would not be used to collect personal information. The company is also offering discounted software as a more affordable legal alternative for consumers. Disabling Window’s automatic update feature can help avoid screen black-out, though it might then cease to give security updates. Users already affected can get rid of the black screen by using software patches already available online.

"Microsoft's Windows and Office Genuine Advantage will help users detect copycat operating systems," explained Microsoft. "The move is just to warn users and not influence their normal operations."

The company has claimed that affected computers would return to normal after 45 days. However, a number of lawyers have gone on record as stating that Microsoft's initiative may cross a fine legal line. Consumers have also complained about the new initiative on a Chinese government website. In a survey of 11,600 people, 79 per cent said that Microsoft should simply lower its product prices, while 12 per cent questioned the overall legality of forced black-screens and unsolicited pop-ups.

The US-based Business Software Alliance estimates that more than 80 per cent of software sold in China last year was pirated. But according to the Microsoft statement, one in five Chinese consumers do not know they are using pirated software. Retailers sell brand-name computers bundled with pirated software to cut the cost. X