CHINA'S PIRACY PLAGUE.

This article focuses on the problem of product counterfeiting and piracy in China. In 1995, China made promises to protect intellectual-property rights. Since then, authorities have launched numerous raids on illicit producers of software and music CDs. And many of the culprits have been convicted in Chinese courts. But even as U.S. business cheers Congressional approval of permanent normal trade relations with China in 2000, it is becoming increasingly clear that the piracy problem is still bad for software and entertainment companies. And it is spreading through many other industries. Many foreign manufacturers in China estimate that 30% of their products in the mainland are fakes.