As proprietary software vendors crack down on piracy, China looks to Linux as an alternative. On virtually any street in Shanghai or Beijing, you can buy a Hollywood DVD or hot new CD for $1 or less. Vendors peddle Microsoft Office, Windows XP, and every other popular software applications out of cardboard boxes jammed full of discs. Entire markets in the major cities are dedicated to selling knock-offs of designer goods for pennies on the dollar. If you’re interested in high finance, $200,000 worth of annual derivatives data is available from online vendors for $500 a year.
Link: InformationWeek
