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MSN China Blatantly Steals Site's Source Code

by Tim Stevens on December 16, 2009 at 02:40 PM

With more and more applications moving to the Internet, it's getting easier and easier for one shady developer to rip off the work of another. Often, you can easily see the source code (the behind-the scenes plumbing that makes it all happen) of a given site and then copy it for your own with just a few clicks. Change a few images and, presto, you've got your own app. That's apparently what MSN China has been found guilty of: ripping off a Chinese blogging site called Plurk.

Microsoft has admitted that its China wing stole code when creating MSN Juku, a microblogging site that looks nearly indistinguishable from Plurk (check out a larger image after the break). Complaints were raised and Microsoft itself wasted no time in confirming the theft -- while naturally issuing plenty of apologies and regrets. The MSN Juku site has now been suspended and the company is working to make things right. Fortunately for Microsoft, a little money heals most wounds. [From: Plurk Labs, via: Huffington Post]

Tags: china, intellecutal property, IntellecutalProperty, juku, microsoft, microsoft china, MicrosoftChina, msn, msn china, MsnChina, plurk, theft, top

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