Internet cafes are starting to complain in local Chinese media about Shanda's (SNDA) monopolistic online game practices, and many of these cafes have vowed to block their users from using Shanda's software to games.

Some of these cafes have gone so far as to post on the Internet a joint declaration, criticizing Shanda's unequal cooperative contractual terms. The Internet cafes say they have made Shanda rich while the cafes bear the brunt of government legislation and closures.

Shanda meanwhile has launched a public relations offensive with a nationwide "Shanda Winter Network Administrator Care Plan" in an attempt to placate the Internet cafes through technicial upgrades and gifts. But so far, Shanda has not made a public announcement on any new profit scheme it will use with the cafes.