Detective Mechandise

Mandatory installation of the screening software Green Dam on all computers sold in China after July 1 has now prompted a copyright claim from Solid Oak, the maker of the CyberSitter filtering program.

Many U.S. companies have been cooperating with the Beijing government to ensure continued lucrative contracts with the huge Chinese market, but the Obama administration has apparently sent a letter protesting the initiative on human rights grounds. The letter has not been publicly released, but a statement, "Secretary Gary Locke and USTR Ron Kirk Call on China To Revoke Mandatory Internet Filtering Software," seems to make the tone of protest clear.