Looks like Microsoft is hell bent on ruining their reputation by using stolen code. In the first instance they were caught using GPLv2 code and then keeping it as closed source, and now Plurk, a popular social networking site in Asia, has leveled charges that Microsoft China MSN Club site has lifted code from their site.

The above screenshot clearly shows several similarities between Plurk and MSN China. In addition to that, there are also some code similarities between the Microsoft and Plurk site.

Agreed that creating a unique design is tough, but lifting it from your nearest competitor is always going to get you caught. The accusations by Plurk have not yet been confirmed by Microsoft, however, even to the naked eye it is quite certain that there was a rip-off. I was even more surprised that the marketing team at Microsoft China could not spot the similarities or did they think that Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?

What do you think? Does Microsoft no longer have access to creative people? Or are they just hiring lazy people who would rather copy code from someplace else and pass it off as their own.

[via Neowin]