MSN China

MSN China is a venture of the global software corporation Microsoft, part of its MSN service, located in the People's Republic of China.

MSN Juku

In November 2009, MSN China launched an Internet application called MSN Juku in beta. Commentators described it as a "Twitter-style" microblogging service, although MSN China rejects that description.^[1] From the beginning, observers noted similarity between the MSN Juku user interface and that of established microblogging service Plurk,^[1][2] which was blocked in China in April 2009.

On December 14, 2009, the official Plurk blog posted an accusation that MSN China plagiarized about 80% of Plurk's original code, as well as elements of their CSS and unique user interface features.^[3][4] Microsoft stated in a press release that it looked into the accusations.^[4][5] The next day, Microsoft confirmed that MSN Juku (which, it stated, had been developed by a Chinese contractor) did contain copied code, and stated that the service would be indefinitely suspended.^[6]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Fletcher, Owen (2009-12-01). "Microsoft Offers Twitter-style Service in China". PC World. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/183424/microsoft_offers_twitterstyle_service_in_china.html. Retrieved 2009-12-14. 
2. ^ McGlaun, Shaun (2009-12-01). "Microsoft unveils Twitter clone called MSN Juku". TweakTown. http://www.tweaktown.com/news/13661/microsoft_unveils_twitter_clone_called_msn_juku/. Retrieved 2009-12-14. 
3. ^ "Microsoft China rips off Asia’s No. 1 Microblogging Service". Plurk Labs Official Blog. 2009-12-14. http://blog.plurk.com/2009/12/14/microsoft-rips-plurk/. Retrieved 2009-12-14. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Start-up claims Microsoft China took its code". 2009-12-14. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10414963-56.html. Retrieved 2009-12-14. 
5. ^ http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2009/dec09/12-14Statement.mspx?rss_fdn=Press%20Releases
6. ^ http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/dec09/12-15statement.mspx