Green Dam filter will not pull plug

Web users will continue to receive technical support and customer service for the Green Dam Youth Escort software filter, despite government funding having stopped more than a year ago, the software developer said on Wednesday.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) paid the developers 41.7 million yuan ($6.2 million) in 2008, to fund the costs of developing the software and providing technical support for one year.

"We thought the MIIT would renew the contract to carry on funding us, but they did not," said Chen Xiaomeng, general manager of Beijing Dazheng Human Language Technology Academy, which developed the Green Dam software with the assistance of Zhengzhou Jinhui Computer System Engineering.

There has been speculation that the ministry withdrew its support after the US company Solid Oak accused the software developer of infringing the copyright of its own Cybersitter content filtering software by copying lines of code in a $2.2 billion lawsuit filed earlier this year.

Beijing Dazheng Human Language Technology Academy designed the text-filtering function of the software, while Zhengzhou Jinhui developed its graphic-filtering function.

"I can guarantee that Beijing Dazheng did not infringe anyone's copyright," Chen said.

"I am unaware of why the MIIT did not renew the contract and we hope they will continue to fund us."

Chen also refuted earlier reports that claimed Green Dam had closed down its project team in Beijing and 30 staff members have been dismissed at the end of June.

"The team has simply been relocated because the company could not afford the rent on the offices. No one has been fired," Chen said.

However, he admitted that the company is experiencing financial difficulties.

In addition to the filter not bringing any income into Beijing Dazheng, the company has had to use its revenue from other products to maintain Green Dam's support team.

Chen said his company has injected 7 million yuan of its own money into providing a free aftercare service for the program, including running a call center after the contract with the MIIT ended in 2009.

Even if there is no further funding from the MIIT, Chen said the company would continue to provide the software, upgrades and technical support.

The MIIT announced in May last year that all computers sold in China must pre-install the Green Dam software from July 1.

Following strong opposition from both foreign and domestic computer manufacturers, as well as complaints over censorship, the software was only installed in Internet cafes and schools.

However, Chinese netizens can freely download the filter, which was designed to prevent minors from accessing pornographic and other potentially harmful websites.

Source:China Daily