According to Reuters, a top Chinese copyright official criticized Microsoft for implementing an anti-piracy tool that nags users of counterfeit software with a black computer screen. The same official also criticized Microsoft’s prices as too high for the Chinese market.

The validation software called Windows Genuine Advantage launched in China last week, and the program displays a black desktop on counterfeit versions of the Windows XP operating system with a permanent nag notice in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Users can change the background, but it reverts to black after an hour.

Microsoft’s attempt to discourage piracy was met with outrage in China where a large majority of computer users are believed to be using pirated versions of its software. Threats of lawsuits against Microsoft turned in to a reality as the outrage grew.

Dong Zhengwei, a Beijing lawyer, said Microsoft was abusing its market power and had filed a complaint to China's trade watchdog, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the China Daily said in a report.

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