These continue to be smuggled into Hong Kong for distribution throughout Asia and the rest of the world. After long and unnecessary delays, the Chinese authorities finally approved a title verification scheme for software which should commence soon and will hopefully assist in stemming the tide of exports out of China. Only minimal progress has been made and much remains to be done. BSA has brought some 13 dealer cases since late 1995. There are a number of older cases pending before the AICs but it is virtually impossible to obtain information on how these cases were resolved, if at all.
China continues to be the world s largest supplier of pirate cartridge-based videogames.
The factories engaged in this manufacturing are well-known to Chinese authorities. Most are joint ventures with Taiwan businesses and so far there seems to be little indication that the Taiwan government-encouraged pledge by Taiwan businessmen to avoid investment in pirate plants in China has had much effect. As reported in previous years, these Taiwan joint ventures in China produce the infringing chips containing pirate game software in Taiwan and ship it into China for final assemblage. Little Bawang is reported to have exported 500,000 units of pirate cartridges to Russia in 1996. Efforts at enforcement through the AICs has proved ineffective with only small fines levied if anything.