p2pnet news view Freedom | P2P:- Chinese economics professor Hu Xingdou (right), “who regularly discusses topics ranging from corruption to police brutality on his web page,” successfully sued Beijing Xin Net, “after the hosting company sent him an e-mail saying the site contained ‘illegal’ content and had been shut down,” says the Financial Times.

It’s the first case won by a victim of internet censorship in a Chinese court, says the story.

He considers himself, “both a patriot and an academic of conscience,” says United Press International, going on:

“He set up his own independent website, using his full name as its web name and address www.huxingdou.com.cn in December 2000. He proceeded to post numerous proposals, commentaries, interviews and speeches about modern Chinese society.

The court also complied with Hu’s  demand that Xin Net been ordered to return the Rmb1,370 ($201, €143, £126) fee he’d paid for two years of services, says the FT, noting Hu praised the ruling, “but was sceptical as to whether this would lead immediately to further moves towards greater freedom of speech.

“This means the internet will be regulated more through a set of clear rules and less with arbitrary, opaque decisions,” he’s quoted as saying. “It is a warning sign to the internet surveillance authorities as well.”

But Hu, “he and his lawyers were now hesitant about suing the Suzhou internet police, a step he had pledged to take earlier,” the story adds.

“We want to file a complaint to a court in Suzhou but [I am] 100 per cent [sure] it will be rejected,” he said.

His site was down when we checked it at 9:58 am Pacific.

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Financial Times – Censored web critic wins Chinese court case, May 25, 2009
United Press International – Chinese scholar defeats cyber police, May 22, 2009