Luo Zhiguo, 30, a Zhejiang Province native who was involved in the country's first criminal case involving copyright violation of online games, went on trial at the Putuo District People's Court on Wednesday.

Luo, who surrendered himself to the police last July, allegedly bought several copies of "The Legend of Mir 3:the Evil's Illusion," a popular online game, along with two accomplices and set up a website that charged users to play the game after making minor changes to the software.

Luo's two accomplices, You Tangcun and Ye Weilong, were previously given three-year probation.

(Shanghai Daily January 12, 2007)