QINGDAO has signed a deal with Microsoft (China) to supply authorized office software to city and district government departments, indicating the success of the city government’s campaign to promote the use of legal office software.

    Qingdao is the first of its domestic counterparts to achieve 100-percent use of legal software in government departments.

    Starting in 2002, the city government considered the use of authorized software by government departments as an important measure to protect intellectual property rights, project a good government image and enhance Qingdao’s reputation as an international city, said Yin Qingwei, vice director of Qingdao’s cultural, broadcasting, news and publication bureau, who was also in charge of the campaign to promote the use of genuine software in government departments.

    The city government launched an inspection of pirated software in the city and district government departments and introduced unified purchase, distribution, updates and routine maintenance of office software.

    Regular checks were also conducted to supervise departmental use of authorized office software. Directors of government departments using unauthorized software would be punished.

    The city was selected as the second national model city for copyright protection last year when the State Council issued a notice to urge government departments to use authorized office software.(Martin Li, Li Wei)