Problems will dissipate - Gates
2006-01-30 10:24
Davos - The specter of state censorship and proliferation of software piracy is no reason for technology companies not to do business in China, Bill Gates said.
As technology develops and Chinese innovations multiply, those problems will gradually dissipate, the Microsoft Corp chairperson and co-founder said on Friday.
"I think (the internet) is contributing to Chinese political engagement... access to the outside world is preventing more censorship," Gates said, referring to China's restrictions on politically sensitive internet websites.
Microsoft, Google Inc and Yahoo! Inc have been criticised for acquiescing to Chinese government demands to block access to certain sites, a move critics contends suppresses free speech in the country.
But Gates said freedom of information is available in China, despite the blocked sites.
"I do think information flow is happening in China," he said, saying that even by existing there contributions to a national dialogue have taken place. "There's no doubt in my mind that's been a huge plus."
Software piracy is a problem that will likely be solved over time, because as Chinese-made technology evolves, the country's respect for intellectual property rights will improve, he added.
"We are always upset that they aren't paying us for our products, but we're not going to pick up and go home," Gates said.
- AP